Full water storages and a good chance of another La Niña will drive Murray River management strategies, according to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
MDBA’s Andrew Reynolds said the authority’s annual operating outlook explained how the river would be run based on a range of potential climate and rainfall scenarios.
"Heading into the irrigation season, southern basin storages are at an unusually high level for this time of year, and it's likely that wet conditions and high flows will persist for at least the next few months," Mr Reynolds said.
As of August 8, Hume Dam was at 95 per cent and Dartmouth Dam at 97 per cent, and healthy flows continued to enter the Murray from the Goulburn River and the other Victorian tributaries.
"Although rainfall eased off somewhat in the past couple of months, we're approaching what is typically the season of highest inflows, and the Bureau of Meteorology is also forecasting a 50 per cent chance of another La Niña developing later this year," Mr Reynolds said.
"At Hume Dam we have been in and out of flood operations for the past 12 months, and this is likely to continue into spring.“
The MDBA will consider whether there is a need to start accessing water from the Menindee Lakes to fulfil demand in the Murray system as the year progresses.
"The fact that we did not need to draw water from the Menindee Lakes last summer underscores how unusual this long period of wet weather and high flows has been," Mr Reynolds said.
"Given the high levels of water in storage, the risk of a shortfall in water delivery to entitlement holders this year is relatively low; however, the risk could increase if conditions dry off and water demands ramp up quickly during a period of hot weather.
"It's also notable that substantial amounts of water for the environment will be delivered through the system this year, including to the Barmah-Millewa Forest, unless natural flows exceed environmental targets."
The Annual Operating Outlook and a summary is available online: https://www.mdba.gov.au/publications/mdba-reports/river-murray-system-annual-operating-plan