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Theme 1: Water & Catchments
Topic: Murray-Darling Basin
Almost the whole of inland South-Eastern Australia is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. It covers an area 1,450 kilometres long and 1,000 kilometres wide and consists largely of plains rising to the Great Dividing Range on its Eastern and Southern rim.
The Murray-Darling Basin includes the ACT, and parts of QLD, NSW, VIC and SA and covers 1,058,800 square kilometres or approximately one seventh (14%) of the total area of Australia.
The 'River Murray system' includes:
- the main course of the River Murray and all its catchments
- tributaries entering the River Murray upstream of Albury, and
- the Darling River downstream of the Menindee Lake storage.
Did you know - The annual flow of the Murray-Darling carries less water than the Amazon does in one day.
The river systems of the Murray-Darling Basin
The three main river systems that make up the Murray-Darling Basin include the Darling River and it's tributaries, the Murrumbidgee River, the Lachlan River and Billabong Creek and their tributaries; and the Murray river itself and it’s tributaries.
The greatest continuous length of river in the Basin extends 3,750 kilometres from the source of the Condamine (100 km SW of Brisbane) to the mouth of the Murray (100km from Adelaide).
Environmental management on a basin wide scale
Fortunately, today there is a greater understanding of how soils, water and vegetation and the management of these natural resources are all connected, and how they need to be looked at altogether. To ensure communication continues across state borders, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission work with governments and community groups to plan projects and coordinate policies across the whole region. The Murray-Darling Basin Initiative is the largest integrated catchment management program in the world.
Student Activity Ideas
- Find a good, large map of the Murray-Darling Basin system and have students cut pieces of string (to scale) to the lengths of all its tributaries to try to investigate its total length.
- Research one of the region's native fish.
- Draw and colour maps of land use in the Murray Darling Basin.
- Read stories of Riverboat journeys along the Murray. You may be able to view some of the series 'All the Rivers Run'.
- Create 'Save the Murray' posters, targeting just one important issue on each poster.
Enquiry Learning
- How have land use changes in agriculture, human settlement, the introduction of exotic plants and animals, and the use of water among others, impacted on the environmental health of the Murray River?
- How has the flow of the Murray been altered since European settlement?
- Why does the management of the Murray River involve fierce competition between sectors, interest groups, Local, State and Federal Governments, environmental organisations and individuals in our society?
- How have ecosystem services been diminished in the Murray Catchment?
- As urban areas in other catchments rely on water from the Murray River, why is conservation of water important?
Internet Resources
Type Description Resources Covering the Topic Easy
- Murray Issues - a resource for environmental inquiry in secondary schools.
River Murray Urban Users Local Action Planning Committee Inc.
www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/
- Special Forever - an environmental communications project.
- Getting involved in communication about the Murray-Darling Basin and the importance of water.
- They will provide a booklet with comprehensive information on how to
participate.Primary English Teachers Association
www.nexus.edu.au/ozprojects/
journey/mdbcpeta.htm
- River Murray Catchment Water Management Board.
- Catchment plans, community actions and more.
River Murray Catchment Water Management Board
www.rivermurray.sa.gov.au/
- Murray Urban Users Committee home page.
- Lots of information about the Murray and the use of its water in urban areas.
The Murray Urban Users Committee
www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/
- Lots of resources and activities for learning about the Murray.
- Comprehensive with wide appeal for teachers of all age levels.
The Murray Urban Users Committee
www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/
teaching_resources.htm#Primary
%20Years%20BandYear%203-
Year%205
- Murray-Darling Basin Commission home page.
- Lots of information about the Basin.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/index.htm
- About the Murray-Darling Basin.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/naturalresources/
about/about_basin.htm
- Map and interactive tour of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/tour/tour.htm
- Click on Murraylands to access a variety of information and maps.
Atlas of South Australia
www.atlas.sa.gov.au/More Comprehensive
- Encyclopaedia of Murray Issues.
- A comprehensive look at a range of issues affecting the Murray Basin.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/education/
encyclopedia/encyc.htm
- Map and interactive tour of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/tour/tour.htmWho Can Help?
Organisation Who Can Help? Community Action:
Local Action Planning CommitteesRiver Murray Urban Users River Murray Urban Users Committee (RMUUC)
River Murray Schools Education Program - River Murray Urban Users Committee
Waterwatch SA WaterWise WaterWise
