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Water

Temporary water restriction for the Upper Murrumbidgee River

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment has announced a temporary water restriction for the Upper Murrumbidgee River in the Murrumbidgee I and II water sources from Saturday 4 November 2023 to Wednesday 31 January 2024.

The temporary water restriction increases the commence-to-pump thresholds applicable to unregulated river and unregulated river (high flow) access licence holders. Raised commence-to-pump threshold are published on the WaterInsights Murrumbidgee I and II pages:

Due to drier than forecast conditions, the commence-to-pump thresholds in the existing temporary water restriction have been reduced from 4 November and the restriction has been extended to include December 2023 and January 2024.

The temporary water restriction is required to protect the environmental water releases from extraction in the Upper Murrumbidgee River to improve the physical condition of in-stream habitat.

The temporary water restriction applies to Murrumbidgee River unregulated water access licence holders who draw water from either Murrumbidgee I or II water sources, as described in the Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Unregulated River Water Source 2012.

The temporary water restriction does not apply to stock and domestic water or town water supply.

The restriction will remain in force up to and including Wednesday 31 January 2024, unless that date is amended or the order is repealed before that date.

For more information, visit Temporary water restrictions.

Banks of the river with gum trees
A temporary water restriction for the Upper Murrumbidgee River in the Murrumbidgee I and II water sources commences tomorrow.