Top CSIRO scientist has warned that any less water in Murray Darling system could be disastrous for South Australia with efforts to introduce water to the system might be evaporated due to climate change.
CSIRO scientist Francis Chiew says global heating has affected efforts to reintroduce more water into the system, with Mr Chiew’s projections showing increasing temperature would see a 20% reduction in water flows with 40% percent reductions being the worst case scenario.
South Australia, Conservation council of South Australia chief executive Craig Wilkins says the Murray was bordering on a “Whole system collapse” during the millennium drought, and if faced with the same low flows crucial wildlife and ecosystems would be greatly threatened.