In Malaysia, there are 51 reservoirs that have been impounded mainly
for generating electricity and a water sources (Ambak & Jalal, 2006). One of
many reservoirs in Peninsular Malaysia, the Temengor Lake is a result of
constructing Temengor Dam. Covering a 22,672 ha of area, Temengor Lake
originates from Perak River, and is the second longest river drainage in
Peninsular Malaysia.
Temengor Lake is located in the middle of the Belum-Temengor Forest
Complex, largest continuous forest complex in Peninsular Malaysia. Belum-
Temengor Forest Complex has being identified as an Environmentally Sensitive
Area Rank 1 under Malaysian National Physical Plan and recognized by Birdlife
International as an Important Bird Area. Despite that, only the Belum forest had
being gazetted as a state park while Temengor forest is open for production.
Temengor in particular is now facing considerably deforestation due to logging.
Deforestation can cause deleterious impacts for the lake inhabitants especially
for the fish fauna due to sedimentation, limiting food sources, changes in
physicochemistry of water which will directly distorted the species richness,
composition and species survival (Zakaria et al, 1999).