Media: Aussie drought rivers damaged beyond repair

[Grant]

Australia's two mighty rivers, the Murray and the Darling, irrigate the nation's food bowl, an area the size of France and Germany combined.
But the river system's ecology could be irreversibly damaged before the end of the year because of prolonged drought, a report has cautioned.
The report, by an expert scientific panel, said that the Murray's southern reaches were almost "beyond recovery", with wetlands dried up, vegetation lost and some native fish species wiped out.
The two rivers irrigate the Murray-Darling Basin in south-east Australia, which produces 41 per cent of the country's agricultural output.
Rice, corn, grapes and dairy products worth US$21bn ($37.5bn) are exported from the region annually to Asia and the Middle East.
But Australia's worst drought for a century has brought flows of water into the Murray and Darling to an all-time low.
Environmentalists say that the only way to save the rivers is to cut the amount of water allocated to farmers.

Drought could irreversibly damage Australia's food bowl - 22 Jun 2008 - Weather News - NZ Herald

[ATO2]

I had read a story based on the situation a few days ago. There was a bit about possible extinctions of species as well.
It is certainly pretty serious stuff.

[rainfan]

If it does rain later on, I'm afraid it might be too late. After 12 years of drought in those areas, we're starting to see very negative effects. Certainly is heart breaking to see everything so dry and shrivelled up, the rivers certainly doesnt look very happy.

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by rainfan

If it does rain later on, I'm afraid it might be too late. After 12 years of drought in those areas, we're starting to see very negative effects. Certainly is heart breaking to see everything so dry and shrivelled up, the rivers certainly doesnt look very happy.

And another thing of course, the effects go beyond Australia as that land remains out of cultivation and food prices go up.
Coming from a farming background myself, I know that the effects of drought on rural communities and towns are devastating.

[Grant]

Originally Posted by ATO2

I had read a story based on the situation a few days ago. There was a bit about possible extinctions of species as well.
It is certainly pretty serious stuff.

You are correct Tom, there are already confirmed species extinctions as a result of this