Lam Takhong dam in Si Khiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima will stop releasing water for farming for seven months from Dec 1.
Suthiroj Kongkaew, director of water distribution and maintenance for the dam, said the reservoir currently holds only 113.3 million cubic metres of water, or 36.05% of Lam Takhong's holding capacity.
With such a small reserve it would not be possible to release water for second rice crops and dry season cultivation in the 2015-2016 season. The water would be kept for household and other essential consumption.
Mr Suthiroj said people in five districts - Si Khiu, Sung Noen, Kham Thale So, Muang and Chalerm Phra Kiat - who rely mainly on water from the dam for agriculture have been informed of the seven-month suspension, from Dec 1 until June 30.
As of Nov 4, the total amount of water in large and medium dams in Nakhon Ratchasima was 553.20 million cubic metres, or 47% of the total capacity of 1,175 million cubic metres, he said.