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Mungo N.P.
Mallee Cliffs N.P.
Kinchega N.P.
Murray Sunset N.P.
Hattah-Kulkyne N.P.
Wyperfeld N.P.
Billiat ConservationPark
Murray River N.P.
Little Desert N.P.
Grampians N.P.Kinglake N.P. Lake Eildon N.P.
Alpine N.P.
Maragle State Forest
Namadgi N.P.
Brindabella N.P.
TinderryNatureReserve
Alpine N.P.
KosciuszkoN.P.
Yathong State Forest
Goobang N.P.
Gundabooka N.P.
Currawinya N.P.
Carnarvon N.P.
Culgoa N.P.
Mt. Kaputar N.P.
PilligaNature
Reserve
DanggaliConservation
Park
Big DesertWilderness
Park
ChestertonRange N.P.
NocolecheNature
Reserve
Cocoparra N.P.
Mt. Buffalo N.P.
Yanga N.P.Oolambeyan N.P.
Round HillNature Reserve
GoonooState
Forest
CoolbaggieNature
Reserve
Pilliga WestState Forest
WarrambungleN.P.
Torrington StateRecreation Area
Paroo–DarlingState Conservation Area
ThrushtonNational
Park
Glenelg River
Hop
kins
Rive
r
Mitchell River
Snowy River
Shoa
lhaven River
Woll
ondil
ly Rive
r
Hawkesbury River
Hunter
River
Hunter River
Manning River
Macleay River
Clarence River
Mann River
Brisbane River
Burnett River
Auburn River
Dawson River
Fitzroy River
Nogoa River
Mac
kenz
ie Rive
r
Alice River
Barcoo River
Bullo
o R
iver
Thom
son
Riv
er
Cooper Creek
Cooper Creek
Stize
leck
i Cre
ek
La Trobe River
Yarra River
Goulburn River
KerangWetlands
Barmah Forest
GunbowerForest
Werai Forest
Riverland
Paroo–DarlingNational Park
Currawinya Lakes
Macquarie Marshes
Narran Lake
Fivebough–Tuckerbil
Lower Lakes andCoorong
Koondrook–PerricootaForest Millewa Forest
GininiFlats
Blue Lake
Banrock Station
Lake Albacutya
Hattah–KulkyneLakes
IE
N E W S O U T H W A L E S
V I C T O R I A
S O U T HA U S T R A L I A
Q U E E N S L A N D
A C T
TaroomGayndah
Bundaberg
Hervey Bay
Kingaroy
Tambo
Blackall
Gatton
Maroochydore
Armidale
Grafton
Lismore
Tweed Heads-Coolangatta
Coffs Harbour
Port Macquarie
Muswellbrook
Newcastle
Wollongong
Goulburn
Batemans Bay
Bega
Eden
Lakes Entrance
Bairnsdale
Sale
Ballarat
Ararat
Hamilton
Warrnambool Geelong
MountGambier
Kingston SE
Keith
Bordertown
Gawler
Clare
Port Pirie
Port Augusta
Peterborough
Thargomindah
Quilpie
Cranbourne
Sunbury
Traralgon
Lithgow
Springsure
Nowra
Portland
Lock 10
Lock 11
Lock 15
Lock 1
Lock 2Lock 3
Lock 4
Lock 5
Lock 6
Lock 7Lock 8
Lock 9
Torrumbarry Weir
Yarrawonga Weir
Barrages
Weir 32
Menindee Main Weir
Bourke Weir
Melbourne
Sydney
Adelaide
Brisbane
CanberraBillabong Creek
Edward River
Tuppal Creek
River Murray
Darling River
Murrumbidgee River
Mitta Mitta River
Ovens River
Kiewa River
Broken River
Broken CreekGoulburn River
Goulburn River
Cam
pasp
e Ri
ver
Loddon River
Avoca River
Wimmera River
Avon River
Rich
ards
on R
iver
Lachlan River
Bogan River
Par
oo River
Warrego R
iver
Talbragar River
Castlereagh River
Namoi River
Coxs
Cre
ek
Severn River (NSW)
Macintyre River
Weir RiverMoonie River
Condamine River
Culgoa River
Narran River
Birr
ie River
Mun
galla
la C
reekN
ebin
e Cr
eek
War
rego
Rive
r
Lang
lo R
iver
War
d R
iver
Niv
e R
iver
Maranoa R
iver
Balonne Rive
r
Macquarie River
Gwydir River
Mehi River Macintyre RiverBarwon River
Tumut River
Darling Rive
r
Grea
t D
arlin
g Anabranch
River Murray
River Murray
Bee
chal
Cre
ek
Willandra Creek
Bland Creek
Wakool River
Niemur River
River Murray
Dumaresq River
Balonne River
Bokhara River
Severn
River (Q
LD)
Yanco CreekBillabong Creek
Murray Bridge
Swan Reach
Karoonda
Morgan
Burra
Renmark
Loxton
Pinnaroo
Murrayville
Mildura
Nhill
Horsham
Halls Gap
Hopetoun
Maryborough
Bendigo
Kerang
Swan Hill
Moulamein
Deniliquin
Echuca
Shepparton
Jerilderie
Tocumwal
Wangaratta
Bright
CorowaAlbury
Omeo
Khancoban
Cabramurra
Tumbarumba
Henty
LockhartTumut
Wagga WaggaGundagai
Yass
Crookwell
BoorowaYoung
Cowra OberonGrenfell
West Wyalong
LeetonHay
Griffith
Goolgowi
Hillston
Lake Cargelligo
Condobolin
Forbes
Temora
ParkesOrange Portland
Rylstone
MudgeeWellington
DubboDunedoo
Tullamore
Tottenham
Nyngan
CoolahWarren
CoonabarabranGulargambone
Coonamble
Werris Creek
Walgett
Wee Waa
Narrabri
Manilla
Tamworth
Uralla
Bundarra
Inverell
Warialda
Glen Innes
Moree
Mungindi
Dirranbandi
Goondiwindi
Texas
Tenterfield
Inglewood
Millmerran
Stanthorpe
Warwick
Toowoomba
Dalby
TaraSurat
MilesChinchilla
RomaMitchell
Augathella
Charleville
St George
Cunnamulla
Goodooga
BrewarrinaBourke
Cobar
White Cliffs
Wilcannia
Menindee
Broken Hill
Ivanhoe
Cooma
Adaminaby
Narrandera
Bathurst
Gunnedah
BalranaldRobinvale
Blanchetown
Meningie
Tailem Bend
Ouyen Tooleybuc
Seymour
Benalla
Mansfield
Barmera
Clayton
Barham
Hanwood
Lightning Ridge
Allora
Cootamundra
Booligal
Pooncarie
Hungerford
Wanaaring
Cheepie
Wyandra
Morven
Condamine
MoonieBollon
Enngonia
ByrockLouth
Sea Lake
Mannum
Wentworth
Goolwa
Donald
Finley
Hattah
Wodonga
Narromine
Eildon Reservoir
Winton Wetlands
Waranga Basin
EppalockReservoir
TullaroopReservoir
CairnCurranReservoir
Lake Nillahcootie
DartmouthReservoir
Hume Reservoir
BloweringReservoir
TalbingoReservoir
BurrinjuckReservoir
Wyangala Reservoir
Carcoar Reservoir
BurrendongReservoir
WindamereReservoir
Lake Albert
Lake Alexandrina
Lake Victoria
MenindeeLakes
Narran Lakes
LakeGeorge
Lake Hindmarsh
The Coorong
Lake Buloke
Hattah Lakes
Lake Mulwala
Jack Taylor Weir
Lake Cargelligo
Lake Brewster
Lake Cowal
Kow Swamp
Murray Mouth
Willandra Lakes region
Great CumbungSwamp
Keepit Reservoir
Split RockReservoir
Chaffey Reservoir
Copeton Reservoir
Coolmunda Reservoir
Pindari Reservoir
Beardmore Reservoir
The Murray–Darling Basin
State borderHighwayRiver/creekRiver/creek outside MDBTown/city outside MDBMajor water storageWetland or natural lake
Legend
Reserve/park/forestIrrigation areas (indicative)*Snowy Mountains areaLock and/or weirSalt interception scheme
Ramsar wetland
City(pop. ≥30,000)
City/town(pop. 10,000–29,999)
Town(pop. 1,000–9,999)
Township(pop. ≤999)
0 50 100
KilometresNProduced by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), Canberra (2017). Data acquired from the following sources:State borders, roads, towns, national parks: Geoscience AustraliaRivers/creeks/streams/reservoirs/lakes/locks:Geoscience AustraliaWeirs, salt interception schemes: MDBABasin boundaries: Dept EnvironmentGeographical coordinates, DATUM: GDA 1994Ramsar sites: Dept EnvironmentSnowy Mountains area: CSIRO
* Combines data provided by the states to give a picture of irrigation districts in Australia. The dataset does not show actual on-ground irrigation but rather administrative boundaries for irrigation. The definitions of irrigation districts for each state differ and as a result boundaries are larger or grouped in some states.
Australia’s three longest rivers run through the Basin. However,
in the driest inhabited continent on earth, less than 6% of rainfall makes
it into these slow flowing rivers. The Murray–Darling system carries one of
the world’s smallest flow volumes for its size — many creeks and wetlands receiving
water only in times of above-average rainfall. For comparison, the average yearly flow of the
River Murray is less than the daily flow of Brazil’s Amazon river.
The Basin has significant social, economic and environmental value. More than two million
people live there, including people from many Aboriginal Nations whose spiritual connection to the environment dates back tens of thousands of years. The Basin is Australia’s most important agricultural region and produces around one-third of our food and billions of dollars for the national economy.
Agriculture and associated industries helped to create, and continue to support, the Basin’s towns and
diverse communities.
A challenge in managing the Basin’s resources is delivering sufficient water for people, crops and livestock while maintaining a healthy environment. Sixteen of its more than 30,000 wetlands are Ramsar listed as internationally-important habitats. Many plant and animal species are declining (including the much-loved river red gum) and at least 95 species are threatened. Factors involved include taking too much water for human use (especially when combined with drought) and controls on the way water moves around (eg dams and weirs).
Rainfall variability
Below -500
-499 to -400
-399 to -300
-299 to -200
-199 to -100
-99 to -50
-49 to 0
0 to 49
50 to 99
100 to 199
200 to 299
300 to 399
400 to 499
Above 500
Murray–Darling Basinrainfall anomaly (mm)2007–16
AB
OV
E A
VE
RA
GE
(W
ET)
BE
LOW
AV
ER
AG
E (
DR
Y)
2008 2009 2010
2012 2013 2014 2016 2015
2007 2011
Rainfall throughout Australia can be variable. The Murray–Darling Basin is no exception to this. The annual rainfall anomaly graphic (above) illustrates this variability throughout the Basin.
An annual rainfall anomaly is a measurement of the difference between actual rainfall received in any year compared to the long-term average rainfall. If a given location experiences a year where it receives above average precipitation, the rainfall anomaly will have a positive number (shades of blue). If a location has a drier than average year, the rainfall anomaly will be a negative number (shades of red).
The rainfall maps show that there was significant variability in rainfall anomalies from year to year in the Murray–Darling Basin. For example, in 2008 a significant proportion of the northern Basin was wetter than average, while the southern Basin experienced drier than normal conditions throughout. Across the entire Basin, 2010 stands out as an extremely wet year, while 2007 was very dry throughout the Basin.
One of the challenges faced by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority in managing the water resources of the Basin is delivering sufficient water for both human and environmental needs on an ongoing basis, as rainfall is
highly variable. Regulation structures managed by the MDBA in cooperation with Basin states such as dams and weirs assist in maintaining appropriate water supply through drought periods.
(Data source: Bureau of Meteorology)
Significant floods and droughts
1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Flo
w (G
L p
er y
ear)
Northern basin annual flowsFlow measured on Darling River at Bourke
Southern basin annual flowsFlow measured on River Murray at Euston
Average annual flow levels
1895Start of the ‘Federation Drought’which lasts for 7 years
1909Flood in theMurray and
Wimmera rivers
1914Severe droughtleads to the end
of commercialnavigation on the
Murray and Darling rivers
1917Flooding alongthe River Murray
1921Flooding acrossthe entire Basin
1931Flooding along
the River Murray
1944Severe drought
throughout NSW,Vic and SA.
Murray ceases toflow in some areas
1950Record rainfall
causes widespreadflooding in Condamine
and Warrego rivers
1952Flooding in the
River Murray
1956Highest Basin inflowsin recorded historycause widespreadflooding
1968Due to severe
drought, Hume Damfalls to 1% of capacity
1974Widespread floodingacross the Basin, known as the ‘big wet’
1981Drought forcesAdelaide to take90% of its waterfrom the Murray.The Murray Mouthcloses for the firsttime in recordedhistory
1993Flooding across
QLD, NSWand Victoria
1997Beginning of longest droughtin Australia’s recorded history
2000Murray Mouth closes andrequires dredging
2010-11Widespread floodingthroughout the Basin
2006Lowest inflows
on record
Jan2017
2013-15Extreme dryconditions inNorthern Basin
Water inflows in the Murray–Darling Basin can be highly variable from year to year and differ between the north and south.
Flows of the Darling River at Bourke (shaded light blue) are generally representative of flows in the northern Basin rivers. Flows of the River Murray at Euston (shaded dark blue), are generally representative of flows in the southern Basin rivers.
The River Murray peaks of 1917, 1931, 1952, 1956, 1974, 1993 and 2010 are particularly prominent. The Darling had two peaks in the early and mid 1950s and three peaks in the 1970s. The three periods 1895–1902, 1940–48 and 1998–2010 were dry in both the northern and southern Basin.
Looking closer at the graph you will notice that above–average flows in the northern and southern Basin do not necessarily coincide. What might be a very wet year with higher flows in the southern Basin does not always turn out to be a wet year with higher flows in the northern Basin and vice versa. In 1909, for example, the Murray experienced flow levels almost twice its average and it flooded.
The Darling at Bourke experienced flows of about half its average. There are years such as 1950 where the flows for the Darling were almost 10 times its average, and the Murray only slightly above average.
(Data source: MDBA/Bureau of Meteorology)
MURRAY 2,508 kmDARLING 1,545 kmMURRUMBIDGEE 1,485 kmLACHLAN 1,339 kmCONDAMINE-CULGOA 1,195 kmMACQUARIE 1,076 kmWARREGO 830 kmBARWON 700 km
LENGTH OF MAJOR RIVERS IN THE MURRAY–DARLING BASIN (Not to map scale)
NAMOI 700 kmPAROO 640 km BOGAN 600 kmGOULBURN 560 kmGWYDIR 560 kmCASTLEREAGH 550 kmLODDON 390 kmWIMMERA 290 km
© Murray–Darling Basin Authority for and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, 2017.
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the MDBA logo, all photographs, graphics and trade marks, this publication is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.
MDBA publication number: 07/17
scan this QR code with
a phone or tablet to check out our website:
www.mdba.gov.au
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BA
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