Home / Environment / Menindee Lakes Hit 5-Year Low, Water Restrictions Imposed
Menindee Lakes Hit 5-Year Low, Water Restrictions Imposed
28 Oct
Summary
- Menindee Lakes storage fell below 480GL, lowest since 2021.
- Upstream restrictions aim to preserve water for critical needs.
- Experts warn of potential mass fish deaths this summer.
Combined water storage at Menindee Lakes has fallen below 480 gigalitres, a level not seen since 2021. This has led the New South Wales government to implement temporary water restrictions across parts of the northern Murray-Darling basin. The restrictions target upstream water users, aiming to conserve dwindling supplies for critical human needs and the environment.
Experts are concerned about the potential for catastrophic fish kills this summer, citing the low water volumes and insufficient flows in the Darling-Baaka River. Similar events in 2018, 2019, and 2023 resulted in millions of dead fish. Professor Jamie Pittock emphasized the need for significant rainfall and state government intervention to prevent irrigators from depleting the initial water flows.
While recent rainfall in Queensland offers some hope for replenishment, current inflows may not be sufficient. Graeme McCrabb, a Menindee resident, noted that the lakes have reached 'drought reserve volumes,' necessitating water conservation. He expressed disappointment that government agencies have yet to implement policy changes recommended two years ago by an expert panel to improve water quality outcomes and reduce the risk of fish kills.
