Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), Media Release, 11 December 2024

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has reassured communities the storages and weirs are well positioned to meet irrigation, community, and environmental needs this summer.

MDBA Executive Director of River Management, Jacqui Hickey, said managing the system adaptively to respond to the changing conditions is key for ensuring the River Murray System operates smoothly during the peak demand period.

“The dry winter and spring meant bulk water transfers started early and remained within channel, allowing environmental water to be used to water the floodplains and wetlands,” Ms Hickey said.

“The recent rainfall across eastern Australia has seen a temporary rise in river levels and reductions in irrigation demand, and storage releases. Further down the system, Lake Victoria is almost full – ready to support what is expected to be a high demand summer autumn.

“The updated Annual Operating Outlook (AOO) issued today reaffirms our confidence to deliver water where and when it is needed this water year.

“As at 11 December, Hume Dam held 60 per cent capacity and Dartmouth Dam 89 per cent. The Menindee Lakes held 41 per cent and Lake Victoria 95 per cent.

“The MDBA continues to work closely with Basin states to coordinate water releases, monitor storages and manage to the condition.

“We are actively working with our partners to manage water quality risks including blue-green algae and salinity, and to ensure that communities have the information they need to be safe and enjoy the water this holiday season.

“The MDBA remains committed to transparency and keeping the public informed. We will provide regular updates through our River Murray Weekly Report.

The AOO is one of many planning tools that inform how water agencies can respond to a range of modelled scenarios in the River Murray.

Updates released today in the AOO reinforce government preparedness for a range of potential scenarios, while also serving as a reminder that real-world events are more complex and outcomes in the River Murray system will be different in the months ahead,” said Ms Hickey.

For more information and to read the full report visit the MDBA website.