At any given time, water flowing through the river is destined for various uses, including irrigation, industry, communities, the environment, and meeting South Australia’s flow entitlement.
The exact mix of these flow components is determined by a number of factors including demand and water availability.
Each month we provide an update showing flows in the River Murray system including the total volume of water flowing for consumptive use and to care for the environment. The update also outlines the intended environmental outcomes.
River flow information
The December flow to South Australia included water for South Australia’s entitlement, traded volumes and water for the environment. Water for the environment at the South Australian border throughout winter-spring comes primarily from return flows from upstream environmental water use.
For the latest information on water for the environment see the River Murray weekly report.
Intended environmental outcomes
Water for the environment takes time to move through the system. Water from past watering events is still moving through the River Murray as return flows. Environmental water holders can also use water for the environment by extracting allocations directly from the river. These allocations are often used for small-scale watering events rather than having water delivered from a storage.
| Location | Return flows used at site | Intended environmental outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| River Murray delivery | N/A |
|
| Barmah Forest | N/A |
|
| Lower Broken Creek | N/A |
|
| Gunbower Forest | Yes |
|
| Gunbower Creek | No |
|
| Campaspe River | N/A |
|
| Loddon River | N/A |
|
| Edward/Kolety–Wakool River system | Yes |
|
| Murrumbidgee River | N/A |
|
| Lower Darling/Baaka | No |
|
| Great Darling Anabranch | N/A |
|
| Chowilla Floodplain | Yes |
|
| Pike Floodplain | Yes |
|
| Katarapko Floodplain | Yes |
|
| Lower Murray | Yes |
|
| Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth | Yes |
|