Water agencies are working closely to manage water quality in the Menindee Lakes and the lower Darling-Baaka in far west New South Wales (NSW) over the summer to ensure local communities, agriculture, and the environment get the water they need when needed.
Conditions can change rapidly in warmer weather, impacting water quality, including dissolved oxygen levels, blue-green algae, and fish health, which is why the Australian and NSW governments continue to monitor the system closely throughout the holiday period.
At the beginning of December, the Lakes were at 42.9 per cent capacity (742 gigalitres), but following recent heavy rainfall in the northern Basin, around 250-350 GL is expected to flow into the Lakes by the end of January.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) can access water from the Menindee Lakes until levels reach 480 G, when the NSW Government takes over management.
MDBA Executive Director of River Management Jacqui Hickey said continued cooperation with Basin states, particularly the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and WaterNSW, remains critical to tackling the immediate challenges of water quality and water security at Menindee and the lower Darling-Baaka.
“The recent rainfall across the southern Basin has eased irrigation demands and enabled the MDBA to reduce its call on water from Menindee, providing more time for NSW to plan for conditions when the Lakes reach 480 GL,” said Hickey. “If demands on the River Murray increase, we will likely begin calling water from the Lakes. In this event, we will work closely with NSW agencies to help mitigate risks to water quality and fish death. Right now, we’re attentive to various points, including the potential for blue-green algae, low oxygenation, and salinity risks. While we rely on many planning tools, including the Annual Operating Outlook (AOO) updated ahead of summer, it’s important to remember that real-world conditions rarely follow any scenario outlined in a report. The Update is just one of many resources we use to guide flexible and responsive decision-making.”
NSW DCCEEW Director of Water Planning Implementation Allan Raine said local, state, and federal agencies are focused on overcoming the challenging conditions that summer often brings to the river.
“The NSW Government and our partners are working to maximise storage levels in the top Lakes, where evaporation rates are lower,” Raine said. We stand ready to support Menindee by prioritising water for critical needs, including town water, basic stock, domestic supply, and the environment, should storage levels hit the 480 GL trigger. The good news is that water quality monitoring shows that overall dissolved oxygen levels in the Darling River at Menindee remain above the critical thresholds for fish health. Still, we are not getting complacent and will closely monitor the situation.”
As summer progresses, the MDBA and NSW DCCEEW will provide regular updates and continue working closely with local communities, stakeholders, and agencies to safeguard water security, maintain environmental health, and support regional economies.
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