Modelling environmental flows to save the Murray’s wetlands

Research shows that Murray-Darling environmental flows need to go up if the river system’s terminal wetlands are to survive. Modelling shows that increasing annual flows on the Murray-Darling during low-flow periods from current levels up to one-third of what the natural flow would have been, can deliver substantial environmental benefits and avoiding future crises. Realisation of this outcome depends on increasing environmental flows and implementing sophisticated river management during dry periods, both highly contentious options.