Drought Case Study: 'The Big Dry'

The Murray-Darling Drainage Basin

The Murray-Darling Drainage Basin (2)

Beginnings of the Drought

Australia's Patterns of Rainfall

Past Droughts

Impacts on Agriculture by 2007

Social Impacts by 2007

Social Impacts (2)

Environmental Impacts by 2007

Economic Impacts by 2007

Causes of the Drought - El Niño

Southern Oscillation Index

Causes - Climate Change

Improving Water Security

The Plan: Modernising Irrigation Methods

- In an average year, irrigated agriculture uses roughly 70% of Australia's water.
- Up to 65% of this water is lost or wasted.

Addressing Over-Allocation in the MDB

Over Allocation is where more entitlements to irrigation water have been issued than can be sustained.

Reforming the Management of the MDB

- The MDB is home to over 2 million people and a further million rely on its water
- The land and water of the MDB are of great economic importance

Upgrading Water Information

As water becomes more scarce and demand increases, it is vital to monitor the resource and its use, at a national level, a basin scale, and for individual farms.

The Australian Government Water Fund

Water Smart Australia

Lake Brewster Water Efficiency Project

Lake Brewster Water Efficiency Project - Aims

Changing Farming

Changing Farming (2)

Desalination Plants

Urban dams and Disused Reservoirs