The importance of carryover and inter-valley trade

As water supply in the lower Murray comes under increasing pressure from new water demand trends, carryover and inter-valley trade from other parts of the southern-connected Murray-Darling Basin will become increasingly important tools for all irrigators to manage their water needs.

In 2018-19, water demand from existing permanent horticulture in the lower Murray was approximately 1,122 GL*. In the absence of any demand-side response, water demand could increase by 125 GL once existing permanent plantings reach full maturity.

If this happens, in a year with similar within-region water supply conditions to 2018-19 (approximately 1,285 GL), there may only be a small volume of water in addition to the permanent horticulture demand. This highlights the importance of carryover of water from one season to the next and inter-valley trade in managing risk, particularly for irrigators in the lower Murray.

Check out the full report released by the Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning here.

Water supply scenarios and permanent horticulture water demand, lower Murray region

Note: the demand estimate includes demand from vegetable growing in the Victorian and NSW Sunraysia.