Monthly Water Update

Rainfall was lower than average particularly north of the basin. Similar to the previous month, about six per cent of the area had lowest on record rainfall. Mean rainfall was 13 mm, 70 per cent lower than the long-term mean of 44 mm for February.

Streamflow was lower than average for 74 per cent of the sites. Streamflow was lowest for February since 1980 at six sites, including the Condamine-Balonne, Barwon and Namoi catchments. Due to some local rainfall events, the two sites at Murray River at Barham and Edward River at Moulamein had the fourth highest streamflow for February since 1980. Streamflow data are not yet available this month for 13 sites in the southern part of the Murray–Darling Basin. The page will be updated once data become available.

Median streamflow salinity (electrical conductivity) varied between sites from 31 to 23826 μS/cm. Streamflow was fresh for 75 per cent of the sites and brackish for 12 per cent of the sites. The three monitoring stations Bremer River At Harrogate (Opposite Tennis Court), Burra Creek at Worlds End (Low Flow) and Darling River at Downstream Weir 19A had the highest salinity of all sites, increased slightly from previous month. Streamflow salinity data are not yet available this month for 11 sites in the southern part of the Murray–Darling Basin. The page will be updated once data become available.

During February, accessible volumes decreased in 15 systems and remained stable in three. By the end of the month, the volume of water stored was 33 per cent of the total accessible capacity, a decrease of 22 per cent from the same time last year.