state of the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin

Native Fish Species

has reduced flow volumes to the Southern Ocean by 80%.

can harvest whole floods, robbing rivers and floodplains of essential wetting cycles, and causing unseasonal flooding.

clutter the rivers of the Basin, blocking fish movement, salinising land and dampening natural flow variability.

released from dams affects potentially 3000km of river length, stopping or reducing fish breeding. Wetland area has shrunk by 50% or more, and many wetlands have been invaded by weeds due to reduced flooding.

have shrunk by 50% or more, and many wetlands have been invaded by weeds due to reduced flooding.

in the Lower Murray, Lachlan, Macquarie, Namoi, Gwydir, Warrego and Condamine-Balonne Rivers in 20 years’ time are predicted to exceed tolerance thresholds (600 EC) known to reduce reproduction in many species and alter food webs.

including silver perch, Macquarie perch, freshwater catfish and southern pygmy perch have disappeared from many rivers. Seven native species are listed as threatened by the IUCN.

which rely on floods to breed have been lost from many wetlands as water is extracted upstream for irrigation.