Menindee Lakes hit 5-year low as experts warn of summer fish kills
Menindee Lakes hit a five-year low, raising the risk of summer fish kills.
Menindee Lakes in western NSW has dropped to its lowest water level in five years. The state is now restricting water use upstream.
Combined storage fell below 480 gigalitres earlier this month for the first time since 2021. The upper lakes dropped below 250 gigalitres.
This triggers temporary restrictions on irrigators across the northern Murray-Darling Basin. Experts warn that without more rainfall or water through the Darling-Baaka River, mass fish kills are likely over summer.
Menindee experienced devastating fish kills in 2018, 2019 and 2023. Millions of fish died during low-water periods.
Graeme McCrabb is a local resident. He said the system has reached drought reserve levels.
Summer conditions will be critical.
- 2021
- Lowest level since
- Below 480 gigalitres
- Combined storage level
- Below 250 gigalitres
- Upper lakes level
- 2018, 2019, 2023
- Previous fish kill years
Why it mattersMass fish kills at Menindee are likely over summer unless water supplies increase. A government expert panel's recommendations remain unimplemented two years after it delivered its final report.
AustraliaAustralian farmers and towns that depend on Murray-Darling water face tighter restrictions if the crisis deepens, and rural NSW communities could be hit hardest by another fish kill disaster.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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