The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has today announced that the minimum opening water allocation for South Australian irrigators has risen to 68 percent for 2019-20.
Based on recent rainfall and water availability data, this is up from previously projected water allocations of: 14 per cent in April; 22 per cent in May; 26 per cent in June; 31 per cent on 1 July; 38 per cent on 15 July and 50 per cent on 1 August.
After two consecutive years with low rainfall and inflows across the Murray-Darling Basin, the volume of water in Murray-Darling Basin Authority controlled storages is around 41 per cent of capacity and slowly increasing.
An assessment of the likelihood of increased irrigation allocations currently indicates allocations will continue to rise in the 2019-20 water year.
We will continue to monitor resources conditions closely with the aim of increasing water allocations for the remainder of 2019 and into 2020.
Based on historical climate variability across the last 30 years, water availability projections indicate that water allocations are likely to reach 100 per cent in 2019-20 under all inflow scenarios.
Water users will be provided with water allocation updates twice a month reflecting any improved water availability while water allocations remain under 100 per cent. The next update will be on 2 September.
You can stay up to date with DEW’s announcements at the following link: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/river-murray/water-allocation-and-carryover/water-allocations-and-announcements?fbclid=IwAR06u_FBX4jX7dNHpCZyCz6lMFSFYQatZQrWV9nue-JgflyNBZb5z_is_m4