LAKE Wendouree user groups have welcomed the $1.3 million investment to refill the lake by the end of next year.Particularly relieved with the announcement is Ballarat's rowing fraternity, which has not used Lake Wendouree since 2002, when it was declared too dry for boating events.The last Worlds Masters Games in rowing was held on Lake Wendouree in 2002. The Head of the Lake regatta was moved to Nagambie in 2004, and then to the Barwon River at Geelong.Ballarat rowing identity and Rowing Victoria board member Eric Waller was excited that the lake would return to its former glory.Mr Waller said Rowing Australia would lobby for Ballarat to host the 2014 World Masters Rowing. The 2014 championships could attract 3000 international competitors to Ballarat.Ballarat Clarendon College rowing coach Ross Henderson also welcomed the news."It will bring rowing back to the lake and will have the spin-off effect of attracting other events to not only the lake, but also to Ballarat," Mr Henderson said.Current rowers from Ballarat schools have never trained or competed on their own lake. But that will change for students like Ella Pipkorn from Loreto College.The Year 9 student is looking forward to competing on Lake Wendouree."It has been sad that I haven't been able to train or compete on the lake. Like all other Ballarat schools involved in rowing, Loreto has had to travel to other places like Geelong for training," Ella said. Ballarat Yacht Club commodore Brian Canny said membership had suffered since the lake dried up."Our membership has dropped from about 400 to 50 in recent years. It will be a mammoth task to rebuild, but it is a challenge we are looking forward to," he said.