The dry conditions experienced between 1996 and 2010, often described as the Millennium Drought, brought about changes in how water is managed in Victoria.. Our analysis provided some support for a role of IOD on the Millennium Drought in south Australia, but we were unable to identify any influence of SAM on the 2001–2009 drought or long‐term trends. This drought affected most of southern Australia, including its largest cities and largest agricultural region (the The year 2006 was the driest on record for many parts of the country and conditions remained hot and dry through to early 2010. Specifically, drought in Australia is defined in relation to a rainfall deficiency of pastoral leases and is determined by decile analy The Millennium Drought, from 2001 to 2009, devastated communities, industries and the environment, which all rely on a healthy River Murray to prosper.A combination of low rainfall and the lowest inflows into the river in recorded history meant flows over the border into South Australia virtually ceased, with unprecedented impacts.Adelaide’s water supply was threatened, and pipelines had to be built to deliver drinking water to the Lower Lakes communities and sustain valuable horticultural industries.Supplies to the nearly 4000 South Australian irrigators that get their water from the River Murray were severely restricted, putting pressure on agricultural and horticultural industries and regional communities.33 wetlands were temporarily disconnected to help save water, risking long-term damage to the ecosystem.The Lower Lakes began to dry up, exposing acidic soils, and the Murray Mouth closed, forcing around-the-clock dredging to ensure salt and other pollutants could be flushed out of the river system.
Across the state 40% of Queensland was drought declared. The Millennium Drought (2001–09) was one of the most severe. The southwest of Western Australia has experienced a 10 to 20 per cent drop in winter rainfall since around 1970—that has been expressed as a step-change or series of step-changes, rather than a … A desalination project was initiated on the In 2010 Perth's dams registered their lowest inflows on record with the city itself recording its third-driest year on record, along with the hottest spring on record.In South Australia work on a small pilot desalination plant at In June 2009 the South Australian Government announced that the plant's annual output was to be doubled from 50Gl to 100Gl, approximately 270Ml (The Australian Energy Regulator found that these effects led to noticeably higher prices from around March 2007, but that these effects had largely eased by September.Geographic and seasonal characteristics, and compounding factors2001 to 2005: El Niño brings on strong drought conditions2006 and 2007: extreme dry and hot conditions in the Murray–Darling basinGeographic and seasonal characteristics, and compounding factors2001 to 2005: El Niño brings on strong drought conditions2006 and 2007: extreme dry and hot conditions in the Murray–Darling basinRankin, Robert. History of drought in Australia. Several rivers, including rivers in the outback had flooded several times, and many dams were overflowing, including the Queensland experienced heavy storms in December 2010 and January 2011, resulting in Despite Western Australia experiencing its fifth-wettest spring on record, drought in the South West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia's intensified in 2010, with the regions experiencing their driest year on record. Perth's dams registered their lowest inflows on record with the city itself recording its third-driest year on record, along with the hottest spring on record.In South Australia, only two regions in the Riverland remained in drought.


and supports their Nations to take a leading role in caring for their Country.Senate Select Committee on the Murray-Darling Basin PlanGeneral water allocation trading opportunities into and out of South AustraliaTradeable water entitlements in the SA River MurrayRamsar Management Plan for the Coorong and Lower LakesEcological monitoring – Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth Agricultural production was severely affected. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns including seasonal variations. For example, as of 2014 Lake Albert salinity was still elevated four years after the drought, and acidity persists in soils and groundwater.Australia had previously relied solely on water from dams for agriculture and consumption.Most Australian mainland capital cities faced a major water crisis with less than 50% of water storages remaining. Rankin Publishers ABS Water Account Australia 2004/05 figures quoted by Water and Cotton Fact Sheet of 13 February 2007 retrieved 5 March 2007 from Water and Cotton Fact Sheet of 13 February 2007 retrieved 5 March 2007 from Mosley LM, Palmer D, Leyden E, Fitzpatrick R, and Shand P (2014). Options for managing hypoxic blackwater in river systems: case studies and framework, Environmental Management 114, 139–147.