River Murray Key facts The River Murray is Australia’s longest operations river and flows for more than 2500 kilometres through New South The River Murray flows through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Wales, Victoria and South Australia, sustaining rural towns and communities, supporting Several major rivers join the Murray, including the agricultural production and nourishing many Goulburn, Murrumbidgee unique Australian plants and animals. and Darling, and many smaller rivers and MDBA River Operations is responsible for operating the tributaries on its westward River Murray on behalf of the joint governments of New journey to the sea. South Wales (NSW), Victoria and South Australia.
Key water regulation assets under control of the MDBA The Murray–Darling Basin include Dartmouth Dam, Hume Dam, Yarrawonga Weir, Agreement (the Agreement) Torrumbarry Weir, Lake Victoria and the locks and weirs sets out the water sharing from Lock 15 at Euston to Lock 7 at Rufus River. rules across the states.
The MDBA determines the volume of water released to meet demands, but does not own any water and can only The main storages in the release water from storage when there are state orders or River Murray are system demands to be met. Dartmouth Dam, Hume Dam, Yarrawonga Weir The physical operation of structures is managed by water and Lake Victoria. authorities in each state. This includes Menindee Lakes on the Darling River, which contributes some water for use in the Murray system, but is managed by the NSW Other major storages Government. Additionally, the MDBA does not operate the connected to the system River Murray downstream of the South Australian border, (but not the responsibility where the South Australian Government take on this role. of the MDBA) include Lake Other key operational roles of the MDBA include: Eildon, Burrinjuck Dam, sharing water in the River Murray between the three and the Snowy Mountains states, management of salt interception schemes, storages. overseeing maintenance of existing assets and construction of new assets. There are 14 weirs, 10 locks The Murray–Darling Basin Agreement sets the MDBA’s and five barrages. Barrages responsibilities for operating the river. It also provides are built near the river’s operating rules the MDBA must follow and be audited mouth to stop sea water against each year. entering the river system.
There are currently 14 salt interception schemes diverting approximately half a million tonnes of salt away from river catchments each year. MDBA1265 LEGEND River Murray system River Murray system Tributary MENINDEE Irrigation channel LAKES Water pipeline Irrigation area The Living Murray icon site DARLING RIVER State border Water storage / reservoir Weir NEW SOUTH WALES LACHLAN RIVER LAKE SOUTH VICTORIA AUSTRALIA EUSTON MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER WEIR (15)
EDWARD RIVER RIVER LOCK 1 to LOCK 11 MURRAY NEW SOUTH WALES
MDBA operates the YARRAWONGA River Murray upstream WEIR HUME DAM of the SA border. INTERFACE WITH SNOWY VICTORIA MOUNTAINS OVENS RIVER SCHEME AVOCA RIVER DARTMOUTH LAKE DAM ALEXANDRINA LAKE KIEWA BARRAGES ALBERT RIVER LODDON TORRUMBARRY WEIR (26) RIVER MITTA MITTA MURRAY MOUTH RIVER (ENCOUNTER BAY) CAMPASPE GOULBURN RIVER RIVER VICTORIA
Examples of river Water storages (also known as dams or reservoirs) capture large volumes of water management structures to mitigate against prolonged drought.
Communities
Agriculture
Weirs are structures built in rivers and irrigation channels to store and regulate the ow of water, and also raise the Wetlands & river level to improve navigation. oodplains
Locks are chambers built adjacent to some weirs. They allow boats to pass through weirs by raising and lowering the river level.
Industry Barrages are a series of weirs built at the end of the Murray to prevent sea water from entering the river system
Connect with us. The MDBA has offices in Adelaide, Albury-Wodonga, Canberra, Goondiwindi, Griffith, Mildura, Murray-Bridge, Toowoomba, and The Murray–Darling Basin regional engagement officers around the Basin.
1800 230 067
mdba.gov.au
River Murray operations | Murray–Darling Basin Authority August 2020