Chaffey Dam, NSW. Photo: CSIRO Land and Water

MDB water assessment project in final stages

The Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields (MDBSY) project is due to wrap up early in 2008. The project team are focussing on completing the technical work of the project and finalising the extensive write up of results and methods. By the end of February, there will be a comprehensive picture of water availability across the length and breadth of the Basin. Communication of the project outcomes will then continue through March and April 2008.

The National Water Commission (NWC) contracted the CSIRO to undertake the project following the Summit on the Southern Murray-Darling Basin, convened by the Prime Minister on 7th November 2006. The CSIRO is providing a robust MDB-wide estimate of water availability on an individual catchment and aquifer basis taking into account climate change and other risks, reporting progressively to early 2008. The 12-month, $12 million project is one of the largest coordinated by CSIRO through the Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship and involves a close partnership with Commonwealth and State Governments, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and leading consultants from private industry.

Modelling of the entire Basin is now complete, providing assessments of available surface water and groundwater for historical, recent and future (~2030) climate and development scenarios. For each region and scenario, the team modelled rainfall-runoff, groundwater recharge and surface water and groundwater availability and use. Where relevant, this included surface-groundwater exchanges. Monthly water accounts and analysis of the impact on water users and significant ecological assets complete the regional assessments.

The grand finale is the newly completed modelling of the Murray system that for the first time has linked all upstream models to the Murray model with feedback loops to the surface and groundwater models for the Goulburn system, the Murrumbidgee and the Lower Darling. This impressive effort has produced the data for reporting of the final regions – the Goulburn-Broken, Campaspe, Loddon-Avoca, Murrumbidgee, Barwon-Darling and Murray.

So far, the NWC has released five of the 18 regional reports – Warrego, Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges, Wimmera, Paroo and Border Rivers. The MDBSY have a further six reports that will be finalised for the NWC before the end of the year. Technical teams are currently drafting the remaining seven reports for technical review and delivery to the NWC early in 2008.

The Project team is also working on a whole-of-basin report due for completion by the end of February 2008. This report aims to bring the 18 MDB regions together as ‘one picture' comparing the regions and communicating key messages for the Basin as a whole. In addition, the project team will produce a series of technical publications that will provide more information on the science and methods that underpin the results.

To download copies of the reports, go to www.csiro.au/mdbsy.

IN THIS EDITION:

Update Home

Message from the Director

Novel new membrane could cut CO₂ emissions and purify water

MDB water assessment project in final stages

$50M Research Alliance tackles urban water sustainability

Tracking how groundwater goes with the flow

Research into water impacts on plantations leads to world-first policy change

Planning landscapes of the future

Economic assessment of acquiring water for environmental flows in the Murray Basin

Eastern Australian drought connected with El Nino

WA team makes a big splash in groundwater management

It's so good it's been bottled

Monitoring leaky landscapes

Thinking Water and Climate: Hydrological Consequences of Climate Change

What's in Our Water: The significance of trace organic compounds

Key Contacts

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