“Rainfall over the Easter period was patchy and failed to improve water storage levels because the minor inflows generated were lost to evaporation in the last two weeks of March, which were very hot,” NSW Department of Water and Energy deputy director general David Harriss said.
“We really need a substantial autumn break across the Basin in order to improve the water outlook for 2008-09, he said.
“Flows in the Darling River from the Northern NSW and Queensland floods are now receding and the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting only moderate rainfall in the Murray-Darling catchments over coming months.
“The department will continue its Critical Water Planning Program to try and meet the needs of critical water dependent industries, such as permanent plantings.
“I’d like to thank all licence holders for their support of the program and co-operation with the extraordinary water sharing rules we’ve put in place during the drought,” Mr Harriss said.
Licence holders in the Murray and Lower Darling valleys are reminded that while the water sharing plan remains suspended, all water remaining in accounts can be carried over into the 2008-09 water year.
Should the water sharing plan be reinstated prior to 1 July 2008, the carryover rules provided in the plan will take effect. These rules specify for maximum carryover for general security of 50 per cent of entitlement and no carryover permitted for high security users.
In the Murrumbidgee Valley, carryover is limited to 15 per cent of licensed entitlement, for both general and high security licence holders.
Carryover will occur automatically on July 1 and licence holders are reminded that all applications for trade in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lower Darling must be lodged by close of business on April 30.
More information will be available in the department’s April resource assessment and communique.
Email a friend