River Murray System
Sharing the water resources of the River Murray
www.mdba.gov.au
Legend
Murray–Darling Basin
State border
River Murray system
Tributary
Water storage
Regulated weir
Non-regulated weir
Water pipeline
Water transfer tunnel
Irrigation channel
Irrigated area
Great Dividing Range
National Park/icon site*
Town/city
Fishway
Navigation lock
Salt interception scheme
Hydroelectric power station
Pumping station
Wilcannia
ran
ab
An
Menindee
5
3
Swan Reach–Stockwell pipeline
7
8
a
9
RIVER M RRAY
U
4
Blanchetown
a
11
R iv
Balranald Weir
15
b
Lowbidgee Irrigation Area
ur
UR
RA
Ri
ve
r
ol
Wako
26
Barmah
Choke
d
Eildon Weir
rn R
iv e r
Lake Eildon
AY
Avoca River
Loddon Ri
v
Cooma
tta
Mi
Mitta
State Water Corporation
Goulburn–Murray Water
SA Water
(as agent of the Minister for Water)
lb u
v er
Ri
v er
er
NSW:
Victoria:
SA:
Benalla
Ri
Riv
The three state constructing authorities are:
East Goulburn
Main Channel
Wangaratta
Canberra
Wodonga
s
Kiew a
River Murray operations assets are owned by a
joint venture of Australian, New South Wales,
Victorian and South Australian Governments.
Assets are designed, constructed, operated
and maintained by three state constructing
authorities under the direction of the Murray–
Darling Basin Authority.
Yarrawonga
Goulburn Weir
ou
RIVER MURRA
Y
en
Waranga
Basin
Seymour
Constructing and maintaining assets
Gundagai
Hume Dam
Lake Hume
Corowa
Yass
Wagga Wagga
Albury
Ov
Meningie
Berembed Weir
Holbrook
Yarrawonga Weir
Lake Mulwala
Br
ok
e
Goulburn–Murray
Irrigation District
Burrinjuck Dam
Lake Burrinjuck
Tumut
ken River
Bro
oor
on
g
Goolwa Barrage
RIVER M
URRA
Y
G
eC
Bendigo
l
Canal
eek
Cr
Lake Albert
Th
Mulwala
Shepparton
Waranga
Western
Channel
na
Billab
ong
Cre
ek
n
ER
Ca
Gogeldrie Weir
Yarrawonga
Main Channel
National
Channel
Charlton
ain
Yanco Weir
Murray
Irrigation Area
Echuca
RR
ng
ro
oo
Torrumbarry
Irrigation Area
Campaspe
Riv
er
eC
Th
Lake Alexandrina
RIV
AM
co
Cr
ee
d
c
Kow Swamp
Goolwa
Leeton
MI
Jerilderie
Deniliquin
Barham
Macorna c
Strathalbyn
l
Cana
Snow
yR
ive
r
Guthega
Pondage
Tombullen Storage
Stevens Weir
Channel
U
al
ard
Rive
r
Lake Jindabyne
Snowy River
Catchment
an
Colleambally
Canal
Island Bend
Reservoir
Jindabyne
iver
mbidgee R
Murru
Y
Edw
Kerang Weir
Lower Lakes and Barrages (Detail)
M
Snow
yR
i
Ya
n
W
ak
oo
l
Swan Hill
Wellington
tC
Murrumbidgee River
Hay Weir
Moulamein
RM
Tailem Bend–Keith pipeline
Tauwitchere Barrage
Ewe Island Barrage
Boundary Creek Barrage
Mundoo Barrage
St
Colleambally
RIV E
Lake Alexandrina
LOWER LAKES
(SEE ENLARGEMENT)
Geehi
Reservoir
Griffith
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
Hay
Balranald
Robinvale
Murray Bridge
Lake Albert
Murray 1&2 P.S.
Barren Box Swamp
Maude Weir
Redbank Weir
Euston Lakes
Mannum
Goolwa
Lake Eucumbene
r
ve
Ri
Robinvale Irrigation District
For more information on the River Murray system
visit our website: www.mdba.gov.au
Reference: MDBA 37/11
an
NEW SOUTH WALES
Mildura
Lower Murray Water
Irrigation District
Mannum–
Adelaide pipeline
Murray Bridge–
Onkaparinga pipeline
Tooma
Reservoir
Guthega P.S.
Coomealla
Irrigation
Area
VICTORIA
Tumut 2 P.S.
Tumut 1 P.S.
Tumut Pond
Reservoir
ma Rive
r
Too
er
10
Tantagara Reservoir
Talbingo Reservoir
li
Euston
Loxton
Tumut 3 P.S.
ng
r
Da
k
1
6
Jounama Pondage
* These storages are within the Murray–Darling
Basin but do not contribute to the routine operation
of the River Murray system.
La
ch
l
2
Wentworth
a
Riverland Irrigation Area
Lake Bonney Renmark
3856 GL
3390 GL
3005 GL
2015 GL
1730 GL
1631 GL
1026 GL
920 GL
677 GL
254 GL
Khancoban
Pondage
er
The MDBA operates four major storages —
Dartmouth Dam, Hume Dam, Lake Victoria and
the Menindee Lakes (which are leased from New
South Wales) — 14 weirs (13 with locks); and five
barrages, barriers built at the Murray Mouth to
stop sea water entering the river system.
Lake Victoria
Dartmouth Dam
Eildon Weir
Hume Dam
Lower Lakes
Menindee Lakes
Blowering Reservoir*
Burrinjuck Dam
Talbingo Reservoir*
Lake Victoria
Tantagara Reservoir*
This diagram is approximate, and intended as a
broad overview of the River Murray System. It should
not be considered an accurate map for the purposes
of navigation.
Pooncarie
Blowering Reservoir
r
ve
Burtundy Weir
Morgan-Whyalla pipelines
Morgan
Pooncarie Weir
Murray–Darling Basin
Blowering
Eucumbene River
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
ch
an
Major storage
capacities
AY
MURR
ER
RIV
Great D
arlin
gA
na
br
Weir 32
The Murray’s water flow is low and highly variable
when compared to rivers in other countries with
similar catchment areas. To deal with the Murray’s
variable flows, water storages and weirs have been
built along the river’s length to provide reliable
water supplies.
The River Murray must serve multiple, and often
competing, demands for water. These demands
include water conservation and supply (including
for critical human water needs), irrigation,
environmental protection and enhancement,
protection of cultural heritage, protection of water
quality, river navigation, recreation and tourism,
hydro-power generation and flood mitigation.
ch
er
The River Murray flows for 2,530 km from the
Australian Alps through New South Wales along
the Victorian border and into South Australia
before reaching the Murray Mouth and flowing into
the Southern Ocean.
To operate the river, MDBA staff coordinate and
direct releases from the storages to meet the
demand for water along the river system. The
MDBA works cooperatively with state authorities
responsible for river infrastructure to adjust water
flows as necessary.
Taly w
Menindee Lakes
a
alk
Tumut
er
About the River Murray
* These areas form part of The Living Murray’s icon sites.
iv
ee R
bidg
rrum
Mu
Broken Hill–Menindee Pipeline
Snowy Mountains Scheme (Detail)
Chowilla Floodplain & Lindsay–Walpolla Island
Hattah Lakes (Hattah N.P. shown)
Gunbower–Perricoota Forest
Barmah–Millewa Forest
Tumut River
iv
R
g
li n
r
Da
Broken Hill
a
b
c
d
Dartmouth Dam
Lake Dartmouth
SNOWY MOUNTAINS SCHEME
(SEE ENLARGEMENT)