Flows in the River Murray system for June 2023

Flows in the River Murray system vary widely depending on a range of factors, including rainfall, inflows, evaporation, and demands for water from all users.

Published: 14 July 2023

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.

Information in the figure above is for the month of June 2023 and may not include recent rainfall or delivery of water for the environment in the River Murray system. Information in this figure is an average estimate over the past month and formal accounts from Basin state governments may vary. Water for the environment in the figure above represents water that is held by environmental water holders, through entitlements. Other water that flows through the river can also achieve environmental outcomes.

River flow information

The June flow to South Australia comprised of unregulated flows, water for South Australia’s entitlement, traded volumes and water for the environment. Water for the environment consisted of water delivered from the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe, Murrumbidgee and Menindee systems.

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 Intended environmental outcomes
Goulburn River n/a
  • increase the abundance of aquatic and flood-tolerant plants in the river channel and on the lower banks to provide shelter and food for animals and stabilise the riverbank
  • maintain populations of turtles
  • protect and increase populations of native fish
  • maintain abundant and diverse waterbug communities to support riverine food webs.
Lower Broken Creek n/a
  • provide habitat for native fish, platypus, rakali, turtles and waterbugs
  • support the movement and recruitment of fish.
Campaspe River n/a
  • protect and increase populations of native fish, including increased longitudinal connectivity for improved habitat
  • protect the resident platypus population
  • increase the extent of in-stream aquatic plants
  • increase the diversity and biomass of waterbugs
  • maintain water quality in deep pools and prevent stratification in summer.
Loddon River n/a
  • maintain an adequate depth in pools for aquatic plants and to provide habitat for waterbugs, fish and rakali (water rats)
  • maintain water quality
  • support the growth of in-stream and fringing non-woody vegetation.
Gunbower Creek No
  • maintain and improve populations of large-bodied native fish (such as Murray cod).
Gunbower Forest No
  • fill of key wetlands and surrounding forest, supporting the growth and recruitment of wetland and river red gums vegetation
  • increase water depth and quality to support native small-bodied fish, turtles and frogs.
Edward/Kolety-Wakool River system

No

  • maintain and improve large-bodied native fish populations (such as Murray cod), particularly given recent hypoxic events.
Great Darling Anabranch

n/a

  • maintain native fish populations, with particular focus on the dispersal of golden perch from Lake Cawndilla to the Murray.
Lower Darling-Baaka River No
  • improve dissolved oxygen levels and water quality
  • improve habitat for native fish with aim to minimise the risk of further large-scale fish deaths.
Murrumbidgee River

No

  • maintain habitat and provide fish passage through lower Murrumbidgee.
Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth

Yes

  • provide cues for movement and recruitment of diadromous fishes, such as lamprey and congolli
  • salt export via the Murray Mouth
  • improve water quality in the Coorong to support native fish, plants, invertebrates and waterbirds.

Contact the MDBA media office at media@mdba.gov.au or 02 6279 0141