Snowy River in Trouble

Tuesday July 7, 2009

The amount of water flowing into the Snowy river each year has dramatically dropped with a 40 per cent loss of annual rainfall over 30 years.

Long-term weather records by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology show that the river, which once enjoyed high seasonal rainfall and melting snows, is falling prey to climate change. Data published by the two authorities' records also show that there has been a 20 to 40 per cent drop in water flows in five of the Snowy's main tributaries.

As a result of the region's water flow shortages, the $50million that Rudd's government plans to inject into repairing the damaged river looks questionable.

The deal was announced last year in Cooma in an effort to return water flow back to the Snowy. Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong stated this would be achieved through a combination of licence bybacks and water efficiency.

However, the outcome of research by Monash University geographer Peter Wheeler has led him to suggest that the agreement to return 28 per cent of natural flows by 2021 "may yet be achievable". He says that there will be a further decline in rainfall across the Snowy Mountains region, which is estimated to reduce the Snowy's natural flow by 35 per cent within 20 years, and by 50 per cent by 2070.

Mr Wheeler said that meteorological records showed rainfall and water from snow melt across the catchment "have been in deficit since the 1950s, basically from the time the Snowy Mountains scheme was being built.

"We're looking at a long-term trend of rainfall deficit, not a couple of years of drought," Mr Wheeler said.

Find out more about Canberra weather, and the surrounding region here.

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