Latest water use – lower Darling / Baaka region

Last updated:

This page provides information on watering actions taking place in the lower Darling / Baaka region this water year. We’ve grouped actions by status: planned or on hold, in progress, and completed.

For watering actions completed in previous water years, visit Past water use.

Note, the figures and dates provided in the tables may be estimates only. 'CEW' refers to Commonwealth environmental water. All water volumes are in megalitres (ML).

Current considerations

We take seriously the need to balance immediate ecological needs with future water availability. We also recognise and hear the concerns of the community particularly as conditions dry. Communities along the length of the Darling have suffered the terrible impacts of droughts, floods, mass fish deaths and poor water quality over the past decade. Our decisions to release water are made with this in mind – our aim is to support a healthy Darling River.

Most of this water will need to come from the “upper lakes” (Lakes Pamamaroo and Wetherell), which are a drought reserve. It is important to note that the release is for critical environmental purposes. Some of the environmental water being used has been protected from the northern Basin – this environmental water is additional water, that would have previously been extracted upstream and not made it to the Menindee Lakes.

In progress

Table 1: Watering actions in progress in the lower Darling / Baaka region this water year
LocationEstimated water (ML)Start dateObjectives
Lower Darling / Baaka River10,000 

To maintain flow rate of around 300 ML/day (or higher in summer as needed to support water quality and native fish).		1 to 14 September 2026 

Resumed 4 October 2026

Flow rate represents the minimum ‘baseflow’ identified in the Murray-Lower Darling Long Term Water Plan. The plan is based on scientific evidence and is expected to:

  • support survival and condition of native fish, including juvenile Murray cod and golden perch that bred in 2025
  • maintain river connectivity
  • maintain refuge habitat
  • support aquatic plants and food webs
  • promote movement and mixing of water to support water quality (dissolved oxygen, salinity and algae), noting higher flow rate may be required in warmer months
  • possible low-level breeding of native fish.

Planned or on hold

No further watering actions are planned in the Lower Darling / Baaka region this water year.

Completed

Table 2: Completed watering actions in the Lower Darling / Baaka region this water year
LocationEstimated water (ML)Relevant datesObjectives
Lower Darling / Baaka River12,9011 July 2026 to 31 August 2026
  • Increased the likelihood that juvenile fish (including Murray cod and golden perch) survived their first winter and recruited into the adult population
  • expanded access to critical habitat such as snags and benches.
  • maintained river connectivity
  • improved water quality.

For more detailed science and ecological advice supporting the decision to deliver environmental water over winter, see:

Download

If you need help accessing these files, visit web accessibility.

Learn more

The Water Management Plan has more information about Commonwealth environmental flow planning.

To learn more about the results of watering actions, visit Science and monitoring. You can also: