SA River Murray water access entitlement holders will receive their full water allocation in the coming water year, but no private carryover.
Water and River Murray Minister Ian Hunter said entitlement holders would have 100 per cent of their entitlement in the 2015–16 water year due a recent improvement in water availability.
“In the past month, water availability in upstream storages has improved and SA can be expected to receive close to its full Entitlement Flow,” he said.
“In addition, current rainfall across Hume and Dartmouth catchment areas will provide additional inflows and improvements to the state’s water availability.
“We do, however, still need to be aware of the longer-term outlook and the high possibility of an El Niño event developing further, which is expected to bring dry conditions.
“The forecasts which show possibility of decreased flows as a result of El Niño highlight the importance of the full return of 3200 gigalitres, as agreed in the Basin Plan.
“I will continue to work with the Commonwealth and upstream States to ensure the commitments we have secured are delivered.”
Mr Hunter said at this time no water has been allocated for private carryover purposes for River Murray Water Access Entitlement Holders.
“Private carryover can only be allocated if there is less than a 10 per cent chance that the water stored in upstream storages will spill during the coming water year,” he said.
“While the risk of spill from the Dartmouth Reservoir is presently zero, this risk is projected to increase to more than 10pc later this year.
“If conditions change, the State Government may be in a position to allocate carryover water for eligible River Murray Water Access Entitlement Holders during 2015-16.”
The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) will continue to monitor Murray-Darling Basin water resource conditions.
Opportunities to increase the volume of water held for private carryover are being explored.
DEWNR is planning for dry conditions in 2016-17.
