Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Media Release, 22 September 2023

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will call on water from the Menindee Lakes in the coming week to meet demands in the River Murray system.

MDBA Senior Director of River Management John Waterworth said the decision is consistent with scenarios modelled in the Annual Operating Outlook released in August 2023, with water to be ordered from Menindee as weather conditions dry off and irrigation demands increase.

“We are working closely with state agencies to appropriately manage the many factors that need to be considered,” Mr Waterworth said.

“There are water quality and other operational considerations we are working on cooperatively while operating the lakes to maximise future water security.”

The Menindee Lakes system is at 80% capacity and is currently holding approximately 1,400 gigalitres – the equivalent volume of almost 3 Sydney Harbours.

“Under the water-sharing arrangements set by governments, the MDBA must maximise water available across the River Murray system, which at this time includes the Menindee Lakes,” Mr Waterworth said.

“The MDBA is working closely with New South Wales agencies to conserve water in the upper lakes as much as possible, for use as a drought reserve for the Lower Darling (Baaka).

“With the Bureau of Meteorology this week confirming we have entered an El Niño weather pattern; the hotter and drier conditions and increased irrigation demand has meant that the River Murray system is forecast to be fully regulated in the coming days.

“What this means is that current environmental water releases of 550 megalitres per day at Weir 32 will be replaced by the call for operational water.

“Volumes released from Weir 32 will increase daily by roughly 250 megalitres until we reach roughly 3000 megalitres per day, which is expected to occur on 7 October.

“We anticipate these releases will continue in the coming months noting that weather conditions can always lead to changing release plans.

“Advice from an inter-governmental water quality working group is being taken into account when making the release management decisions.”

Further advice to local communities and landholders will be issued by WaterNSW over the coming days. For information on scheduled events, water quality and operations at Menindee Lakes visit the WaterInsights website.