A run of back-to-back wet years has breathed new life into Australia’s largest river system as bird breeding and fish migration explode across the previously parched Murray-Darling basin.
After drought gripped the inland river system from 2017 to 2019, consecutive La Nina weather events have revived virtually the entire river system, stretching from western Queensland across NSW and Victoria to the sea in South Australia.The Commonwealth holds a $4 billion portfolio of water entitlements, stored in dams across the basin, that it can use to boost flows, give drying rivers a drink and inundate targeted wetlands for a top-up.
During the last drought, many of the rivers in the north-west of the basin dried to a series of small pools baking in the heat. The CEWH made a series of releases to top up those waterholes and stop them drying out completely. Flora and fauna have evolved to thrive in Australia’s harsh cycle of drought and flood, but they are not coping with theOver-allocation to irrigators shrunk natural flows and deprived wetlands of natural flows and average rainfall across south-eastern Australia has declined about 10 per cent over the past 30 years.Waterbird numbers have been dwindling in the Murray-Darling for the past 35 years. Researchers estimate a 70 per cent reduction to populations.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
River Murray flooding causes new problems for Coorong after years of low flowsScientists say the River Murray flood has been 'disastrous' for the region's bird species, prompting urgent calls for better management and intervention of the river system.
Read more »
Murray Valley Encephalitis detected in Victoria and New South WalesA potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus has been detected in Victoria for the first time in more than a decade. 9News
Read more »
Manchester United v Manchester City: Premier League – liveMinute-by-minute report: Follow all the action from the Manchester derby with Scott Murray
Read more »
Power behind the baton: the conductor who prepared Cate Blanchett for TárThe Oscar-winning actor turned to Natalie Murray Beale to learn the conducting skills that underpin her latest film role
Read more »
Worried about mosquitoes and encephalitis viruses? Here's everything you need to knowJapanese encephalitis and Murray Valley encephalitis have health authorities concerned. We spoke to the experts to find out everything you need to know about the viruses.
Read more »
‘World’s longest river cruise’ could threaten endangered Ganges dolphin, experts warnA luxury cruise has been hailed as the start of a new age of Indian tourism. But conservationists fear the impact of increased river traffic and pollution
Read more »