Drought
Australia is currently in the grip of a severe and unprecedented drought, with low rainfall in many districts and record low inflows to the Murray-Darling basin. This is having an effect on all members of the community, from rural irrigators to residents of many cities and towns, and the situation will not be reversed until significant rains replenish dams, streams and rivers, and aquifers.
The wine industry is feeling the impacts of these conditions, and many growers and winemakers will need to adjust their decision making and practices to deal with the circumstances.
South Australia's Drought Ressponse
For information on South Australia's Drought Response please visit:
http://www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp
Information on the River Murray is available at:
http://www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/
Drought Updates
15 February 2010 - Water Allocations Increase for SA
Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, said today River Murray water allocations in South Australia would increase to 55% of entitlement. Read full report here
16 November 2009 - SA Allocation Announcement Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald said today a small amount of additional River Murray water has become available to allow an increase in allocations for River Murray irrigators. Allocations are to increase to 48% from 46% today. Read full report here
November 2009 - SA River Murray Carryover
Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald today announced South Australian irrigators will be able to carryover all of their allocations not used in 2009-10 into the 2010-11 water year. This includes water previously carried forward from 2008-09 that remains unused at June 30, 2010.Read full report here
November 2009 - SA Water Allocation AnnouncementMore River Murray water has become available to South Australia, allowing for increased allocations for South Australian irrigators, critical human water needs and the environment. Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald says rainfall across the Murray-Darling Basin during September and October has meant an extra 120 billion litres is now available for South Australia. This has allowed an increase to irrigation allocations from 34% to 46% effective from today. Read full report here
October 2009 - SA Water Allocation Announcement
Acting Minister for the River Murray, Patrick Conlon, today announced River Murray licence holders will be able to access 25% of their entitlement from today, up from 16%. This improvement is due to improved River Murray water resource conditions. Read the full report here.
September 2009 - News Release
The South Australian Government will purchase permanent water entitlements from South Australian irrigators who missed out on selling to the Commonwealth under the latest round of its buyback program. Read full report here
September 2009 - SA River Murray Allocation Announcement
Read full report here
September 2009 - SA River Murray Water Resources Report
Read full report here
September 2009 - SA River Murray Water Allocation Projections
Read full report here
September 2009 - SA River Murray Allocation Announcement Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald has announced an improvement to River Murray licence holders due to improved water availability during August 2009. Licence holders will now be able to access 10% of their entitlement from today. River Murray system inflows improved during August 2009 and are expected to exceed 390 GL. This is more than the 275 GL received last year but well below the long-term August inflow of approximately 1 550 GL. Read full report hereAugust 2009 - SA River Murray Resources Report - Issue 44DWLBC have issued the latest edition of the River Murray Water Resources Report. Read the full report here
August 2009 - SA Media Release - Government acts on water and lower lakes Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill and Minister for Agriculture, Food & Fisheries Paul Caica today announced three immediate steps to deal with low water flows in the River Murray primarily caused by over-allocation and over-extraction of water in upstream states. Read the full release here
July 2009 - SA River Murray Water Resources Report - Issue 42 DWLBC have issued the latest edition of the River Murray Water Resources Report. Read the full report here
June 2009 - MDBA Media Release & Drought Update
The Murray Darling Basin has experienced its ninth autumn with below average rainfall.
The latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority Drought Update reports that Murray system inflows for May were only 90GL, slightly above the record low of 75GL (in 1902), but well below the long term average of 390GL.
Read the full Media Release here
Read the full Drought Update here
5 June 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, has announced irrigators are likely to begin the new water year on 1 July 2009 with an opening allocation of at least 2% and access to at least 50% of eligible carryover. Allocations in South Australia will remain at 18% for the remainder of 2008-09.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1414GL (15% capacity), compared to the long-term average for this time of year of about 5270GL (56% capacity).
Just 90GL of inflows were recorded in May 2009, wll below the long-term May average of 390GL.
Read the full report
15 May 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations in South Australia will remain at 18% for the remainder of 2008/09 as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling basin.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1321GL (14% capacity) compared to the long-term mid-May average of about 5110GL (54% capacity).
Just 50GL of inflows were recorded in April 2009, well below the long-term April average of 240GL.
Read the full report
15 May 2009 - Opening Irrigation Allocation Likely for New Water Year
Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald says irrigators are likely to begin the new water year on 1 July with an opening allocation of at least 2% and access to at least 50% of eligible carryover.
Read the full report
1 May 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations in South Australia will remain at 18% for the remainder of 2008-09 as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1285GL (14% capacity), compared to the long-term May average of about 4960GL (53% capacity).
Below Lock 1 water levels remain low and salinity levels remain high due to increased flows into South Australia.
Read the full report
17 April 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations in South Australia will remain at 18% for the remainder of 2008-09 as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1305GL (14% capacity) compared to the long-term average for mid-April of about 5020GL (54% capacity).
Just 40GL of inflows were recorded in March 2009, which was just slightly above the worst case scenario predictions.
Read the full report
15 April 2009 - River Murray Irrigation Allocations Remain at 18%
River Murray irrigation allocations will remain unchanged at 18% for the rest of 2008-09 because of ongoing drought conditions across the Murray Darling Basin.
Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald said only 40 gigalitres flowed into the system in March, which meant no increase in the amount of water available to South Australia.
Read the full report
6 April 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations remain at 18% as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1,371GL (15% capacity) compared to about 1,890GL (20% capacity) at the same time last year.
Rainfall across the upper Murray catchment and in South Australia remained very low last month.
Below Lock 1 water levels remain low and salinity levels remain high due to reduced flows into South Australia.
Read the full report
19 March 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations remain at 18% as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1,469GL (16% capacity) compared to about 1,894GL (20% capacity) at the same time last year.
Applications to carry-over for use in 2009-10 have now closed.
Below Lock 1 water levels remain low and salinity levels remain high due to reduced flows into South Australia.
Read the full report
16 March 2009 - Rivery Murray Irrigation Allocations Remain at 18%
Continued dry conditions and low inflows across the Murray-Darling Basin mean River Murray irrigation allocations will remain at 18%.
Read the full report
6 March 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations remain at 18% as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1521GL (16% capacity) compared to about 1931GL (21% capacity) at the same time last year.
Applications to carry-over water for use in 2009-10 have now closed.
Read the full report
6 February 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations increased to 18% from 1 February.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1768GL (19% capacity) compared to about 1868GL (20% capacity) at the same time last year.
River Murray irrigators can again carry-over water for use next financial year, but applications must be received by 27 February 2009.
Read the full report
16 January 2009 - River Murray Water Resources Report
River Murray irrigation allocations will increase from 15% to 18% on 1 February 2009.
The volume of water in upstream storages is currently 1991GL (21% capacity) compared to 1744GL (18% capacity) at the same time last year.
River Murray system inflows remain at historically low levels.
Below Lock 1 water levels remain low and salinity levels high due to reduced flows into South Australia.
Read the Full Report
15 January 2009 - River Murray Irrigation Allocations Increase to 18%
River Murray irrigation allocations will increase to 18% from 1 February 2009 following a slight improvement in the volume of water available to South Australia.
Read the full report |
