River org urges level checks

THE Murray-Darling Basin Authority has encouraged people to check local conditions to make the most of their time on and around the river this Easter.

MDBA executive director of river management Jacqui Hickey said that while levels will vary along the length of the river, holiday makers and local residents can expect April flows and depths similar to recent years.

“We know communities and local businesses rely on river activity – and we encourage everyone to check river levels ahead of time and plan their activities accordingly,” Ms Hickey said.

“People looking to launch boats or enjoy deeper water may want to take advantage of weir pools along the river, where levels are more stable.

“Wherever you are, it’s important to remember it’s never the same river twice and safety should always come first.

“Warm weather at the start of autumn meant releases from Hume Dam have continued to support downstream needs and this means Hume is sitting lower this year-round.

“With the holiday period in late April and water available from Menindee Lakes, river levels will fall slightly as demands ease, which is typical in the cooler months.

“Our focus is on supplying current demands while looking ahead to make sure we’re managing water availability for future seasons.”