Saving the River Murray - with less water

New approaches to smarter water management

Tuesday, 14 July 2009

A free public forum at the University of Adelaide will tomorrow examine new approaches to smarter water management in the face of a future decline in water available from the River Murray.

The forum - being hosted by the Water Research Centre of the University's Environment Institute - is part of an ongoing series known as "Water Wednesday".

This month's Water Wednesday on 15 July will focus on predictions that the River Murray will have lower inflows in future, while water allocations are greatly exceeding what the system is able to cope with.

"The effects of past over-allocation plus the current drought will be compounded by future significant declines in inflows," said the chair of this week's Water Wednesday, Professor Martin Lambert.

Guest presenters at the forum will include:

• Dr Bill Young of the CSIRO, currently seconded to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority;
  
• Ms Robyn McLeod, Commissioner for Water Security; and
  
• Associate Professor George Ganf from the University of Adelaide.

Sustainable water yields, future water security and ecological perspectives will all be discussed in the forum.

"The Water Research Centre promotes public debate on new approaches to water management," Professor Lambert says.

"The Murray-Darling Basin is in crisis and smarter water management is needed to keep the river alive. Science can play a critical role in enabling water managers and consumers to manage this precious resource in a sustainable way."

WHAT: Water Wednesday: Sustaining the River Murray with less water

WHERE: Lecture Theatre 102, Napier Building, North Terrace Campus, University of Adelaide

WHEN: 5.30pm-6.45pm Wednesday 15 July

COST: Free, but bookings essential.
Email: environment@adelaide.edu.au or phone Dr Anne Jensen: 0407 170 706

www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/wrc

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