Fed: Murray inflows remain at record lows

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2007
Fed: Murray inflows remain at record lows

By Robin Pash

CANBERRA, Feb 12 AAP - Inflows into the parched Murray-Darling basin remain at record
lows, a new report says.

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) said rainfall in December and January did
little to relieve the system's water crisis, with inflows remaining at their lowest in
115 years of records.

Inflows for the year to date, the eight months from June to January, have been just
660 gigalitres - 60 per cent below the previous minimum of 1,170 gigalitres recorded in
1983.

The figure is only nine per cent of the long-term average of 8,000 gigalitres for the
same period.

The commission has maintained its forecast that the three dams which underpin the basin's
southern farmlands - Dartmouth, Hume and Lake Victoria - will reach dangerously low levels
by the end of May.

Water allocations remained under severe pressure and rationing was still a possibility,
the commission said.

"With storages falling to very low levels, and associated limitations in outlet capacities,
operation of the River Murray remains challenging," the report said.

"There remains a small risk that temporary rationing of irrigation diversions in NSW
and Victoria, and temporary reduction in flow to South Australia, could be required particularly
if severe hot weather conditions occur."

MDBC chief executive Wendy Craik said the lack of significant rainfall in the upper
catchment for more than a year meant flows from groundwater systems into streams had virtually
dried up.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a 60 per cent chance of above average rainfall
over the next few months, but Dr Craik said an extraordinary volume of rain was needed
to boost key storages.

"Typically it takes a number of years for storage levels to recover to near average
levels following extreme drought events," she said.

"This is because storages only rise significantly in very wet periods, particularly
winter-spring, when there is enough water to meet full irrigation requirements and also
to store additional water for future years.

"Inflow conditions throughout 2007-08 would have to be at a level experienced in only
about one year in 10 over the long term in order to raise storage levels to near average
levels."

Despite the grim situation, Dr Craik said water would still be available - but at very
low levels - from Murray catchment inflows and future releases from the Snowy Mountains
Scheme if the dry conditions continued.

The commission again warned it may still have to implement drastic control measures
to meet town and city water needs if last year's unprecedented dry conditions were repeated
in 2007.

The measures include reduced minimum flow targets, early pumping from the Murray to
build reserves in Mt Lofty storages in South Australia, and disconnecting some permanent
wetlands which are artificially inundated.

The Howard government wants to take control of the Murray-Darling from NSW, Victoria,
South Australia and Queensland as part of a $10 billion rescue package for the rivers,
but the states are yet to agree to the plan.

AAP rp/sb/it/nf

KEYWORD: DROUGHT MURRAY

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