Temporary water restriction for 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 Monday 10 July to Thursday 31 August 2023.

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 environmental releases will be made throughout the 10 July – 31 August period, but include two high-flow releases, peaking at 1,500 megalitres per day on Tuesday 11 July and 1,450 megalitres per day on 15 August.

The temporary water restriction applies to Murrumbidgee River unregulated water access licences 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will remain in force up to and including Thursday 31 August 2023, unless that date is amended, or the order is repealed before that date.

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

For more information visit Temporary water restrictions

A temporary water restriction for the Upper Murrumbidgee River in the Murrumbidgee I and II water sources