River Murray SA

02/06/2026

Following significant rainfall within the Sturt, Keswick and Brownhill Creek catchments, the Patawalonga Lake has been utilised, in conjunction with the Barcoo Outlet, to manage the increased inflows of stormwater.

Due to the inflows, water in the Patawalonga Lake will be discoloured and may contain some small and large debris.

It is strongly recommended that recreational activities on the water are avoided until the system has cleared.

With a high tide and rain continuing, DEW are monitoring lake levels and water quality.

The water in the lake will be circulated over the coming days to flush out the stormwater.

02/06/2026

Attention boaties:

River Vessel Waste Disposal Station (RVWDS) systems upgrade.

Contractors will perform system upgrades at the following RVWDS on the dates listed below:

▪️Goolwa RVWDS: 10-12 June.
▪️Murray Bridge RVWDS: 13-15 June

The stations will remain operational; however, minor delays may occur.

For a full list and map of the stations visit: http://environment.sa.gov.au/waste-disposal-stations

25/05/2026

The end of the water use year is almost here.

If you're planning to trade water allocation for 2025/26, now is the time to act.

Applications must be received by Sunday 7 June to be processed before the end of the water year.

Not sure where to start? A water broker can help, or you can contact the Water Licensing Team on (08) 8372 7561 or email [email protected].

22/05/2026

Today is World Turtle Day and to celebrate, we’re bringing you this exciting update from the Pike Floodplain.

During late spring monitoring, DEW’s floodplain ecologists and River Murray & Mallee Aboriginal Corporation rangers were excited to see this little Broad-shelled turtle.

With a long incubation period, this baby could have been laid as an egg as long ago as autumn 2024.

They’ve emerged from their nest having survived one of the riskiest stages of a freshwater turtle’s life. Go well little buddy!

World Turtle Day is all about raising awareness of turtle populations and efforts to conserve this ancient reptile and protect their habitats.

Turtles are one of the most threatened groups of species on earth. Of the 356 species of turtles and tortoises globally, more than 50 per cent are threatened with extinction.

Turtles play an important role in keeping freshwater ecosystems healthy, as they help to clean and move nutrients around the water - like little vacuum cleaners.

They also help to disperse seeds for native vegetation. In other words, they’re little heroes in a half shell.

There are more than 20 different species of freshwater turtles found all over Australia, but in South Australia, you can find 3 species of freshwater turtles; Murray short-necked turtle, Eastern long-necked turtle and Broad-shelled turtle – the largest of our turtle species boasting the longest turtleneck in relation to body size of any turtle in the world!

Video: Ali Stokes/ (DEW)

22/05/2026

**** IMPORTANT UPDATE: FRIDAY 29 MAY ***

Unfortunately, due to the weather forecast, current site conditions, and associated safety concerns, the Sustaining Riverland Environments (SRE) team have made the decision to cancel the Bookmark Creek Community Planting Day scheduled for Friday 5 June.

While we are disappointed not to be proceeding with the event, the safety of volunteers and staff must remain our priority.

We would like to thank everyone who registered their interest and supported the event. Your enthusiasm for helping restore Bookmark Creek has been greatly appreciated.

We look forward to sharing updates as the planting progresses and encourage you to keep an eye on the site as new native vegetation becomes established along the walking trail and surrounding project area.

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Join the Sustaining Riverland Environments and the Riverland Native Plants teams on Friday June 5, to help revegetate Bookmark Creek with native species in celebration of World Environment Day.

📍New walking trail downstream of Ral Ral Avenue

⏱️ Planting session: From 10:00am to 2:00pm

☕ Coffee, drinks and light snacks provided

Family friendly. Children must be supervised. Everyone welcome! To register visit Bookmark Creek Revegetation Planting Event.

To register visit Bookmark Creek Revegetation Planting Event
https://events.humanitix.com/bookmark-creek-community-planting-day

18/05/2026

Check out the Thukabi Monitoring Case Study, now live as part of Rivers, the Veins of our Country, highlighting First Nations–led projects under The Living Murray Program. The Thukabi monitoring program is a great initiative, delivered through the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation and Adelaide University with support from the Department for Environment and Water (Environment SA News).

Ever wondered how many thukabi (turtles) call the Lower Murray home? 🐢

The Ngarrindjeri community wanted to find out.

Drawing on First Nations knowledge alongside western science, the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation partnered with the The University of Adelaide to design a thukabi monitoring program grounded in culture, science and Country.

See why their program earned a nomination for the SA Citizen Science Award and what it means for thukabi on Ngarrindjeri Country.

Read the case study: https://ow.ly/NMpf50YZf43

Rivers, the veins of our Country explores 6 case studies of First Nations led projects under The Living Murray Indigenous Partnership Program.

18/05/2026

Need to submit an annual water meter reading?

Take your meter reading between 1 July and 14 July 2026 and submit your reading by 31 July 2026 (even if no water has been used).

Reporting is a legal requirement. If your meter reading is not received by this date, a fine will be issued.

Sign up to mywater to submit your annual water meter reading online and manage your licence details in one place.

Getting started is easy:
✔️Visit access.mywater.sa.gov.au
✔️Select ‘Sign up’ and follow the prompts
✔️Your account will be activated within 48 hours (check your junk folder just in case)
✔️View and manage your meter readings and water use history anytime

Need a hand?

We’ve produced some short video guides to walk you through signing up and submitting your reading. Find the links in the comments below.

13/05/2026

You may have recently noticed the water levels in weir pool 5 were temporarily lowered to 18 cm below Normal Pool Level (NPL) for some planned maintenance works at Lock 5.

The Department for Environment and Water Weir Pools team got out and snapped some photos of a few sites and were very excited to see some exposed mud.

When weir pool lowering is conducted for longer durations, colonising plants will establish on the exposed bed and banks, which will improve soil structure over time.

The drying of exposed mud can help to consolidate soils, improving oxygen and nutrient availability and leaching of salts.

Exposed mud also provides valuable foraging habitat with rich food resources for waterbirds.

Prior to regulation, water levels in the river naturally fluctuated to allow these processes to occur, using the weirs to raise and lower water levels reinstates some of this variability enabling these processes important for a healthy river to occur.

08/05/2026

Attention boaties:

River Vessel Waste Disposal Station (RVWDS) systems upgrade.

Contractors will perform system upgrades at the following RVWDS on the dates listed below:

▪️Morgan RVWDS: 11-13 May. The station will be closed on 11 May.

▪️Blanchetown RVWDS: 14-16 May. The station will be closed on 14 May.

▪️Goolwa RVWDS: 10-12 June.

▪️Murray Bridge RVWDS: 13-15 June

The stations will remain operational, however please be advised, minor delays may occur.

08/05/2026

Follow the links below to learn more about this exciting work!

Tomorrow is World Migratory Bird Day, and we’re marking the day by sharing exciting works underway at Murangong Wetland in Lake Albert as part of the Shorebird and Wetland Habitat Project.

The works will help better manage water in the wetland, supporting more natural water cycles that are vital for a healthy ecosystem.

These cycles help bring the wetland to life, supporting plant growth, boosting food sources like invertebrates, and creating ideal conditions for threatened resident and migratory shorebirds to forage.

Many thousands of migratory birds travel from as far as the Siberian Arctic to the Coorong each year to feed in summer, before making the return journey to breed around this time of year.

One of these visitors is the incredible Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (affectionately known as sharpies), which can be found foraging on mudflats amongst a tasty smorgasbord of invertebrates like snails, crustaceans, worms and insect larvae.

Soon, an extra 27ha of prime habitat will be available at Murangong Wetland, just in time for migratory birds like the sharpies who’ll return around September.

These works are part of a broader program delivering 120km of habitat improvements across the regio, helping migratory birds thrive for years to come.

Murangong Wetlands works will be delivered by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board in partnership with Raukkan Community Council Inc. , Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation and Coorong District Council.

The Shorebird and Wetland Habitat program is funded by the Australian Governmentand delivered by SA Government to enhance the quality and availability of shorebird habitat and wetland ecosystems across the Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East regions of South Australia.

📷 Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board