According to the reports, 6000GL within three years must flow through the barrages with high flows of 6000GL and 10 000GL every third and seventh year to maintain a healthy Coorong. These flow regimes are essential to ensuring salt is flushed out of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Currently on average 2 million tonnes of salt a year flows down the basin. When there is no movement of water out of the system into the sea, this salt accumulates in South Australia and we carry the salt load for three other states. If we let this salt accumulate in South Australia it damages not only the environment but also the industries and communities that depend on the Murray River for water.
Australia needs a Basin Plan based on credible science that will return at least a minimum of 4000GL of water to the environment. It must provide sufficient water to enable the Basin's two million tonnes of salt and other pollutants to be flushed out through the Murray Mouth to the sea. Without a healthy Murray-Darling Basin, all communities face an uncertain future.
We applaud the South Australian Government for releasing the reports Synthesis review of the science underpinning the environmental water requirements of the Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth and continue to call for a Basin Plan that will provide a long and healthy future for all communities in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Show your support for a Basin Plan based on credible science that will deliver positive outcomes for the Murray-Darling Basin by signing the Voices for the Murray Darling petition.
