Murray Darling River Basin Freshwater in Average Year

In general runoff in the river basin is low which is due to low levels of rainfall. The period Oct to Dec is when the highest levels of runoff estimates occur; this coincides with the period when most rainfall occurs. The river receives little rainfall making it sensitive to changes in rainfall from year to year, consequently disruption from El Nino events are apparent and 1997 was a strong event resulting is dry conditions during the summer months in eastern Australia.