Murray Mouth

Apr 27, 2026 - 09:20
0 0
Murray Mouth

Water flow: C/e, add refs

← Previous revision Revision as of 03:49, 27 April 2026
Line 64: Line 64:
River Murray water is used by farmers for [[irrigation]] in four of Australia's states, as well as supplying water to most towns along the river, and many further away through various [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]]s. It has been widely accepted that too much water is being extracted; however business and political concerns make it difficult to remedy the problem. A visible symptom of the over-extraction of river water is the closing of the Murray Mouth.
River Murray water is used by farmers for [[irrigation]] in four of Australia's states, as well as supplying water to most towns along the river, and many further away through various [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]]s. It has been widely accepted that too much water is being extracted; however business and political concerns make it difficult to remedy the problem. A visible symptom of the over-extraction of river water is the closing of the Murray Mouth.


From October 2002 until 2010 [[dredging]] machines operated at the Murray Mouth.{{cite web |url=http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin/projects/all-projects-map/keeping-the-murray-mouth-open |title=Keeping the Murray Mouth open - Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin |website=www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330045809/http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin/projects/all-projects-map/keeping-the-murray-mouth-open |archive-date=2015-03-30}}
From October 2002 until 2010 [[dredging|dredges]] operated at the Murray Mouth.{{cite web |url=http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin/projects/all-projects-map/keeping-the-murray-mouth-open |title=Keeping the Murray Mouth open - Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin |website=www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330045809/http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin/projects/all-projects-map/keeping-the-murray-mouth-open |archive-date=2015-03-30}}
Between 2002 and 2006, two machines operated moving sand from the channel to maintain a minimal flow from the sea and into the Coorong's lagoon system. Without the 24-hour dredging, the mouth was at risk of becoming silted and closing, cutting the supply of fresh seawater into the Coorong, which would then warm up, [[water stagnation|stagnate]] and die.
Between 2002 and 2006, two dredges operated moving sand from the channel to maintain a minimal flow from the sea and into the Coorong's lagoon system. Without the 24-hour dredging, the mouth was at risk of becoming silted and closing, cutting the supply of fresh seawater into the Coorong, which would then warm up, [[water stagnation|stagnate]] and die.


In mid-2006 the dredging was scaled back as a result of the improved conditions at the mouth. Now only one dredging machine operates, and permission was granted to one commercial operator to navigate the channel between Goolwa and the Coorong, passing the mouth. This operation finished in 2010.
In mid-2006 dredging was scaled back as a result of the improved conditions at the mouth. Now only one dredge operates, and permission was granted to one commercial operator to navigate the channel between Goolwa and the Coorong, passing the mouth. This operation finished in 2010.


Dredging resumed in January 2015 to late 2016,Washington, David (27 October 2016). [https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/archive/2016/10/27/heavy-flows-keep-murray-mouth-open Heavy flows keep Murray mouth open] ''[[InDaily]]''. Retrieved 27 April 2026. and again in November 2023.Berlage, Eliza and Nitschke, Stephanie (27 November 2023). [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/dredging-returns-to-murray-river-mouth-after-floods-sa/103154702 South Australia to dredge Murray Mouth for first time since devastating floods] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]''. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
Dredging was scheduled to resume in January 2015.


Dredging continues at a cost between $3m to $6m annually.
Dredging continues at a cost between $3m to $6m annually.
Read More