Murray-Darling Basin Authority

Murray-Darling Basin Authority Follow us for stories about the Murray-Darling Basin, its people, communities and industries

Our vision is to achieve a healthy working Basin by managing its water resources for the long-term benefit of all Australians, working with partner governments and the community. We work to protect the Murray–Darling Basin and meet the social, economic and environmental needs of the Basin and its communities. We oversee the roll out of the Basin Plan and operate the River Murray on behalf of NSW,

Victoria and SA Governments. State governments are responsible for an individual’s water entitlements and allocations.

📊💧MDBA active storage continues to increase with widespread rainfall around the Basin. River operations 🚣• Hume Dam rele...
29/05/2026

📊💧MDBA active storage continues to increase with widespread rainfall around the Basin.

River operations 🚣
• Hume Dam release remains low with end of 2025-26 irrigation season
• Releases downstream of Yarrawonga Weir maintained with water for environment
• Lake Victoria minimum end of May target of 350 GL achieved.

WaterNSW advises there are recreational blue-green algae alerts along the River Murray from Lake Hume to the South Australian border.

General information on water quality is available athttps://www.mdba.gov.au/water-management/managing-water-quality

Learn more in this week’s 🔗https://ow.ly/EHHr50Z5qWE

29/05/2026

If you’ve ever thought about building your leadership skills or getting more involved in your community, the Murray–Darling Basin Leadership Program might be a great fit.

Delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, the latest webinar walks you through what the program offers and what past participants have gained from it.

You can catch up on the session here:
🖥️ https://ow.ly/hThw50Z5qSR

Want to stay in the loop about the next intake? Register your interest today:
🔗 https://ow.ly/rOSn50Z5qSQ

Want to shape the future of Australia’s biggest river system?The Basin Community Committee is seeking new members to bri...
26/05/2026

Want to shape the future of Australia’s biggest river system?

The Basin Community Committee is seeking new members to bring your voice to the table.

This is your chance to provide independent advice to the MDBA and Basin Ministers on the big water decisions that matter.

💧 Real impact
💧 National influence
💧 Diverse voices encouraged

Express your interest to be part of something bigger.

🔗https://ow.ly/ZPqy50Z3SVG

📊💧Widespread rain for the Basin this week. The central and northern Basin received the heaviest rainfall. MDBA active st...
22/05/2026

📊💧Widespread rain for the Basin this week. The central and northern Basin received the heaviest rainfall.

MDBA active storage increased by 61 GL to 3,436 GL (40 % capacity).

River operations 🚣
• Hume Dam release reduces as irrigation demand concludes for the 2025-26 season
• Releases downstream of Yarrawonga Weir maintained with water for environment
• Flow to South Australia remains steady at 3,500 ML/day

System operations 🔄️
• Conserving water in the upper Murray storages
• Refilling Lake Victoria to meet the end of May target (350 to 396 GL)
• Preparing the 2026-27 Annual Operating Outlook

Learn more in this week’s
🔗https://ow.ly/ZM1I50Z30YH

📊💧This week was mostly dry around the Basin. From June 2025 to April 2026 unregulated inflows to Hume Dam were around 97...
15/05/2026

📊💧This week was mostly dry around the Basin.

From June 2025 to April 2026 unregulated inflows to Hume Dam were around 970 GL*.

Approx. 20% of years from 1975 onwards were drier over the same period.

River operations 🚣
• Flows downstream of Yarrawonga to remain around 4,000 ML/day
• Irrigation season in key gravity districts finishes 15 May
• Up to 25 mm of rain forecast over the Lower Murray in the coming 8 days.

We are trialling new products to provide greater information. These will be refined through consultation with water users and the wider community.

Learn more in this week’s
🔗https://ow.ly/ftL650Z02z3

*(excluding releases from the Snowy Scheme and Dartmouth Dam)

Ever wondered how many thukabi (turtles) call the Lower Murray home? 🐢The Ngarrindjeri community wanted to find out.Draw...
14/05/2026

Ever wondered how many thukabi (turtles) call the Lower Murray home? 🐢

The Ngarrindjeri community wanted to find out.

Drawing on First Nations knowledge alongside western science, the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation partnered with the The University of Adelaide to design a thukabi monitoring program grounded in culture, science and Country.

See why their program earned a nomination for the SA Citizen Science Award and what it means for thukabi on Ngarrindjeri Country.

Read the case study: https://ow.ly/NMpf50YZf43

Rivers, the veins of our Country explores 6 case studies of First Nations led projects under The Living Murray Indigenous Partnership Program.

Today is World Migratory Bird Day! 🦆Did you know that migratory birds from as far away as the Arctic come to the Murray–...
08/05/2026

Today is World Migratory Bird Day! 🦆

Did you know that migratory birds from as far away as the Arctic come to the Murray–Darling Basin to find refuge and breed?

celebrates the important role of community science for the conservation of migratory birds.

See how many migratory birds you can you spot around the Basin.

Keep an eye out for:
• Australian painted snipe
• sharp-tailed sandpiper
• sacred kingfisher

Learn more about birds in the Basin 🪶
🔗https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin/plants-and-wildlife/birds

Rainfall for the month of April ranged from average to lowest on record across the Basin ☀️River ops:• Widespread rainfa...
08/05/2026

Rainfall for the month of April ranged from average to lowest on record across the Basin ☀️

River ops:
• Widespread rainfall observed over basin this week
• Flows downstream of Yarrawonga decreasing in coming week
• Irrigation demands at Lake Mulwala reduce ahead of the end of the irrigation season

The MDBA reminds river users that River Murray levels downstream of Hume Dam to South Australia can vary.

Keep an eye on forecast flows and river levels at https://ow.ly/kXyp50YWnBy 👀

Read this week’s
🔗https://ow.ly/Kr7050YWnBz

The 2026 Basin Plan Review public consultation has closed.Over the past 12 weeks we: • connected with more than 2,800 pe...
07/05/2026

The 2026 Basin Plan Review public consultation has closed.

Over the past 12 weeks we:
• connected with more than 2,800 people
• visited over 90 locations
• received more than 2,400 submissions.

Thank you! 🫶
Your insights and lived experience will help to shape the next stage of this Review. Every perspective will be considered.

Submissions and the What We Heard report will be published late June 📚

Learn more at mdba.gov.au/water-management/2026-basin-plan-review

Rivers’ wetlands and floodplains support vital connections to Country.We’re excited to share 6 new stories that highligh...
05/05/2026

Rivers’ wetlands and floodplains support vital connections to Country.

We’re excited to share 6 new stories that highlight:
• supporting connection to Country
• learning on Country
• delivering benefits for people and the environment

Rivers, the veins of our Country brings together examples of First Nations leadership and partnerships in managing water for the environment.

Learn more about the latest projects:
https://ow.ly/Piuv50YKg4T

Address

GPO Box 1801
Canberra, ACT
2601

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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