Murray River

Stage 1 emerging water shortage in May 2019, eased to drought stage 1 normal operations on 31 July 2020.

• Dartmouth Dam is at 60% (2,271 GL) - shared resource compared to 62% on 1 July 2019.
• Hume Dam is at 80% (2,397 GL) compared to 24% (2982 GL) on 1 July 2019.

• No general security allocation for most of 2019/20, although full carryover water was available until a 3% general security allocation announced on 15 May 2020.
• No opening general security allocation on 1 July 2020, but allocations had increased to 8% by 17 August and progressively to 36% in November.
• Prior to 2020/21 allocations, previous general security allocation made in March 2018.
• Full high priority and maximum security allocations (97%) provided.

• Environmental releases made in August and September 2019.
• Conveyance allocations reduced in 2019/20 but increased with inflows.
• Commonwealth released environmental spring flow starting in August for 2 weeks and then September 2019 for 6 weeks. The flow was designed to water the Barmah-Millewa and Koondrook Perricoota Forests and provide flow through the system to the Lower Lakes.
• Environmental water deliveries are occurring in spring 2020 to meet environmental objectives.

• The resources of the Murray River are shared between NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
• The River Murray system as a whole experienced 'near extreme' dry inflow conditions for 2018/19 and 'very dry' inflow conditions for 2019/20.

• Spring has been wetter than average.
• Further inflows have contributed to increased general security allocations, but if conditions return dry the focus will need to ensure high priority needs can be met in 2021/22.