Manchhar Lake near Jhangara, Pakistan, is rapidly becoming polluted and toxic. Once a vibrant freshwater lake of over 250 square kilometers, it supported the Mohanna community who lived on houseboats called galiyo. The lake’s waters have shrunk and turned salty due to reduced freshwater inflow and untreated industrial waste pouring in. The Mohannas, an indigenous fisherfolk group, face disappearing fish stocks, health problems, and loss of culture. The Mohanna people used to live and work on the water, with close ties to the lake’s seasonal cycles and rich biodiversity. Their houseboats were homes and workplaces. Now, only about 65 families remain on the lake, with 44 houseboats left. Migratory birds also visit the lake less often. Large drainage projects and barrages built over the last century have cut freshwater flows. Wastewater and chemicals dumped without treatment have poisoned the water. “The water was sweet before,” says Mohanna fisherman Allah Dino Mallah. “Today, even the fish cannot survive in the water.” In 2024, the UK-Pakistan Cultural Protection Fund launched a pilot to repair houseboats and improve community health with clean water and sanitation. The project also introduced fishing boats and set up a floating learning center for children. These efforts save heritage and livelihoods, but the lake’s deep problems remain. Restoration depends on stopping toxic inflows upstream and restoring freshwater flows. Sediment removal and nature-based solutions might help but require strong government action and cooperation. The Sindh government began an $8 million initiative in 2025 to revive Manchhar Lake, but past warnings and court orders have been ignored. The Mohanna’s knowledge of the lake is vital for its management. As Manchhar’s fate mirrors other shrinking lakes in Sindh, saving it is crucial for the community and the environment. Without urgent action, the lake and its people could vanish silently, becoming another tragic loss from ecological neglect.