The Murray-Darling Basin has experienced its ninth consecutive autumn with below average rainfall, with just 90 gigalitres of water flowing into the system, according to the latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority Drought Update.
Water Minister Senator Penny Wong has latched on to the latest inflow figures as evidence of the need for further action on climate change and water "reform" in the Basin.
The latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority Drought Update reports that Murray system inflows for May were only 90 gigalitres, slightly above the record low of 75GL in 1902, but well below the long term average of 390GL.
MDBA chief executive Rob Freeman said that for the June 2008 to May 2009 water year, Murray system inflows were the third driest in 118 years of records.
"This follows the seventh driest year in 2007-08 and the driest on record in 2006-07," Mr Freeman said.
"Murray system inflows have been below average for nine out of the last ten years.
"Autumn is a critical time for wetting of the catchment before winter rainfall, but unfortunately, this did not eventuate.
"The prospects for irrigation allocations in 2009-10 will be highly dependent on future rainfall and system inflows.
"Overall, the outlook for the 2009-10 water year remains grim, and is similar to the previous two years."
The Bureau of Meteorology’s recent June to August rainfall outlook for south-eastern Australia indicated a 50:50 chance of above average rainfall, but also an increased risk of an El Niño developing during winter and spring.
Senator Wong said the "disturbing statistics" confirm the need to take action to tackle the impacts of climate change and help Basin communities and irrigators prepare for a future with less water.
"Our $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan includes a comprehensive strategy to restore the Murray-Darling Basin to health – including $3.7 billion already committed to specific projects nominated by the States to make irrigation infrastructure more efficient," Senator Wong said.
"We have also committed $3.1 billion towards buying water to return to the Basin's stressed rivers and wetlands – recently announcing the biggest environmental water purchase in Australia’s history of some 240 gigalitres of water entitlements from Twynam Agricultural Group."
MDBA active (useable water) storage for the Murray system at the end of May 2009 was 11 per cent of capacity (980GL), which was well below the May long term average of 4670GL.
The total volume of water in all Basin storages managed by the MDBA or by State governments, was about 3,940 GL, or 17 per cent of capacity.
Mr Freeman said the northern Basin had received some rain in May which resulted in only a small streamflow response and very little of that water was expected to reach Menindee Lakes.
He said the prolonged and severe dry period continued to severely impact on wetlands and floodplain ecosystems across the southern half of the Basin.
"Small amounts of environmental water were made available during autumn to avoid critical loss of threatened species, reduce the risks of irretrievable damage and provide drought refuges at certain sites," he said.
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