Latest water use - River Murray Valley

 

This page provides information on watering actions taking place in the River Murray Valley this water year.

Watering actions were previously reported under Lower Murray-Darling and Mid-Murray catchments. These are now reported under River Murray Valley and split into 2 locations:

  • River Murray (Hume dam to the Murray mouth)
  • Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system.

We work with a range of community and government partners to manage water in the River Murray Valley. This includes First Nations peoples.

Note, the figures and dates provided in the tables may be estimates only. 'CEW' refers to Commonwealth environmental water.

River Murray (Hume to the Murray mouth)

This section lists this year's watering actions for the Hume to Murray mouth region of the River Murray Valley.

Planned or on hold

Table 1 lists watering actions that are planned or on hold in the River Murray.

Table 1: Watering actions that are planned or on hold in the River Murray this water year
Location Status Estimated water (ML) Relevant dates Objectives

Renmark Floodplain Wetlands

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 1,200

To be confirmed
  • Support native plants, including black box woodland.
  • Create feeding areas for waterbirds.

Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board sites

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 7,000

To be confirmed
  • Support the growth of native plants.
  • Provide healthy places for waterbirds, frogs and fish to live.
  • Improve water quality.

Weir pool manipulation

Yet to commence

To be confirmed

To be confirmed
  • Provide increased variation in river flows at locks 6, 7, 8, 9 and 15.
  • Support the health of native plants.

In progress

Table 2 lists watering actions that are currently in progress in the River Murray.

Table 2: Watering actions that are currently in progress in the River Murray this water year
Location Estimated water (ML) Start date Objectives

River Murray Hume to Murray Mouth

CEW use: up to 350,000

August 2023
  • Support waterbird breeding in Barmah-Millewa Forest.
  • Support native plants in the River Murray and Barmah-Millewa Forest.
  • Support native fish health, breeding and movement.
  • Maintain flow variability after a period of high flows.

Gunbower Creek

In progress

September 2023
  • Contribute to flowing water habitat for native fish.
  • Improve the health of native plants.

Lower River Murray, Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth

In progress

July 2023

Delivery of return flows from upstream watering actions, the Commonwealth’s proportion of the SA entitlement flow, plus discrete orders to SA as required to:

  • contribute to flowing water habitat for native fish
  • support connecting flows to the Coorong and Murray Mouth
  • remove salt from the river and prevent salt from Southern Ocean entering the Coorong.

Completed

No actions completed.

Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system

This section lists this year's watering actions for Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system within the River Murray Valley.

Planned or on hold

Table 3 lists watering actions that are planned or on hold in the Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system.

Table 3: Watering actions that are planned or on hold in the Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system this water year
Location Status Estimated water (ML) Relevant dates Objectives

Edward/Kolety-Wakool (Yallakool Creek-Wakool River and Colligen Creek-Niemur River)

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 130,000 ML

To be confirmed
  • Support the growth of native plants.
  • Provide higher flows along river and creeks.
  • Support fish breeding and movement.
  • Maintain water quality.

Ephemeral creeks (Tuppal Creek, Merran Creek, Jimaringle, Cockran and Gwynnes Creeks, Murrain-Yarrein Creeks, Thule Creek)

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 86,000 ML

To be confirmed
  • Support the growth of native plants.
  • Maintain water quality.

Werai Forest and the Edward / Kolety River downstream of Stevens Weir

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 30,000 ML

To be confirmed
  • Support Ramsar values.
  • Support the health of native plants.
  • Help connect rivers with the floodplain.
  • Support the movement of nutrients through the forest, wetlands, rivers and creeks.

Koondrook-Perricoota Forest

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 34,000 ML

To be confirmed
  • Support Ramsar values.
  • Support the health of native plants.
  • Help connect rivers with the floodplain.
  • Maintain waterbird feeding areas.

Private wetland watering sites (Whymoul Creek, Buccaneit–Cunningyeuk Creeks, Lake Agnes, Mortons swamp, Wanganella Swamp)

Yet to commence

CEW use: up to 8,600 ML

To be confirmed
  • Support the different types of native animals found across sites.
  • Maintain the health of native plants.
  • Maintain waterbird feeding areas.

Various sites (water quality maintenance flows)

Yet to commence

CEW use: 20,000 ML

November 2023
  • Maintain water quality.
  • Support the health of native fish.
  • Provide higher flows along rivers and creeks.
  • Support the growth of native plants.

In progress

Table 4 lists watering actions that are currently in progress in the Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system.

Table 4: Watering actions that are currently in progress in the Edward-Kolety-Wakool River system this water year
Location Estimated water (ML) Start date Objectives

Edward-Kolety River (supported by River Murray Hume to Murray Mouth watering action above)

To be confirmed

August 2023
  • Support native fish movement and breeding.
  • Maintain flow variability after a period of high flows.

Tuppal Creek

CEW use: 5,000 ML

October 2023
  • Maintain the health of native plants.
  • Provide higher flows along rivers and creeks.

Cockran and Jimaringle Creek system

CEW use: 5,000 ML

October 2023
  • Maintain the health of native plants.
  • Provide higher flows along rivers and creeks.

Murray Irrigation private wetlands 2023-24

CEW use: 2,000 ML

October 2023
  • Maintain the health of native plants.
  • Maintain waterbird feeding areas.

Completed

No actions completed.

Learn more

The Water Management Plan 2023-24 has more information about Commonwealth environmental flow planning. You can also contact the Local Engagement Officer.

For any watering actions completed in previous water years, visit either: