Australia - Snowy Hydro Announces All-Time Low For November Water Levels

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As national leaders meet in Canberra today for urgent talks on the water crisis in the Murray Darling system, Snowy Hydro has revealed its storages are at their lowest November level on record. Lake Eucumbene can hold nine times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour when full, but it is now less than 20 per cent full.

Snowy Hydro's Paul Johnson says after the worst winter for snowfalls in more than 50 years, inflows from the snow melt are just 25 per cent of average. Mr Johnson says only good rain over spring and summer will help rectify the situation. "The Snowy Scheme water storages are currently at their lowest November level since the Snowy Scheme was completed in 1973," he said. "In addition, water inflows from rain and snow melt have continued to be only around 25 per cent of long-term average, and in fact water inflows this year ... were only two thirds of that of the worst year recorded in the last 101 years."

The Murray Darling Association says water restrictions should apply to all towns dependant on significant waterways like the Murray River.

The association says increased restrictions are one way of helping to address the looming water crisis that is being discussed in Canberra today.

EDIT

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1782685.htm