Dry Days Down Under: Australia and the World Water Crisis

By

Nicholas Breyfogle

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Water trough on a sheep farm 50km north of Deniliquin, New South Wales

Water trough on a sheep farm 50km north of Deniliquin, New South Wales

Source: GNU license

Diesel Water Pump for Irrigation in Mildura, Victoria

Diesel Water Pump for Irrigation in Mildura, Victoria

Source: Creative Commons (Longhair)

Center Pivot Irrigation near Euberta in the Riverina region of New South Wales

Center Pivot Irrigation near Euberta in the Riverina region of New South Wales

Source: Creative Commons (Virtual Steve)

A Farmer Feeding Cattle Cotton Seeds in New South Wales during a green drought

A Farmer Feeding Cattle Cotton Seeds in New South Wales during a green drought

Source: GNU license (CGoodwin)

Drought-affected Fields in the Victorian Countryside outside Benambra

Drought-affected Fields in the Victorian Countryside outside Benambra

Source: GNU license (Flagstaff Fotos)

Level 5 Water Restrictions in Goulburn, New South Wales in 2006

Level 5 Water Restrictions in Goulburn, New South Wales in 2006

Source: GNU license (Bidgee)

Flood markers at Lock 11 in Mildura. The second highest red marking is where the river reached in 1956

Flood markers at Lock 11 in Mildura. The second highest red marking is where the river reached in 1956

Source: Creative Commons (Longhair)

Grapevines in Mildura, Victoria, 2006

Grapevines in Mildura, Victoria, 2006

Source: Public Domain (Longhair)

Dead/Dying River Red Gum Trees on the lower Murray River near Berri, South Australia, 2003

Dead/Dying River Red Gum Trees on the lower Murray River near Berri, South Australia, 2003

Source: GNU license (Tannin)

Aerial view of Nangiloc, Iraak and Colignan during the 1956 Murray River Flood

Aerial view of Nangiloc, Iraak and Colignan during the 1956 Murray River Flood

Source: Public Domain

Pejar Dam, the Water Supply for Goulburn, New South Wales, in November 2005

Pejar Dam, the Water Supply for Goulburn, New South Wales, in November 2005

Source: Creative Commons License (AYArktos)

Sheep Grazing on Dry Paddocks in the Riverina Region during the 2007 Drought

Sheep Grazing on Dry Paddocks in the Riverina Region during the 2007 Drought

Source: GNU License (Virtual Steve)

Hot water bore hole into the Great Artesian Basin in Thargomindah, April 2007

Hot water bore hole into the Great Artesian Basin in Thargomindah, April 2007

Source: GNU (Kdliss)

Cliffs along the Murray River, near Younghusband, South Australia, with a Houseboat on the Right and an Australian Pelican in the Foreground

Cliffs along the Murray River, near Younghusband, South Australia, with a Houseboat on the Right and an Australian Pelican in the Foreground

Source: Creative Commons (Scharks)

The Dry Bed of the Paroo River near Wilcannia, May 2002

The Dry Bed of the Paroo River near Wilcannia, May 2002

Source: Creative Commons (Peter Woodard)

The Paroo River at Wanaaring, New South Wales, Australia, July 2001

The Paroo River at Wanaaring, New South Wales, Australia, July 2001

Source: Creative Commons (Peter Woodard)

A Billabong at Yellow Water in Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory

A Billabong at Yellow Water in Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory

Source: Tourism NT; http://www.travelnt.com

Little Sandy Desert near Durba Spring, 2007

Little Sandy Desert near Durba Spring, 2007

Source: GNU (Peter WH)

Artificially flooded wetlands in Hattah Kulkyne National Park, July 2009. This was an effort to preserve environmental health during the drought

Artificially flooded wetlands in Hattah Kulkyne National Park, July 2009. This was an effort to preserve environmental health during the drought

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

A Canoe Tree. More than 100 years ago, the native peoples of the region carved a canoe from the bark of this tree

A Canoe Tree. More than 100 years ago, the native peoples of the region carved a canoe from the bark of this tree

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Artificially flooded wetlands in Hattah Kulkyne National Park, July 2009. They were flooded in an effort to recreate natural water flows

Artificially flooded wetlands in Hattah Kulkyne National Park, July 2009. They were flooded in an effort to recreate natural water flows

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

A Fish Ladder at Torrumbarry weir, River Murray

A Fish Ladder at Torrumbarry weir, River Murray

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Flood marker on the River Murray, with the peak marking the high point of the 1956 flood

Flood marker on the River Murray, with the peak marking the high point of the 1956 flood

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Hume Dam

Hume Dam

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Hume Reservoir now showing a forest that was submerged when the Hume Dam was built, July 2009

Hume Reservoir now showing a forest that was submerged when the Hume Dam was built, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Hume Reservoir water level marker, showing the significantly reduced level of water, July 2009

Hume Reservoir water level marker, showing the significantly reduced level of water, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Pumping Machinery to bring water from the River Murray to flood wetlands in the Hattah Kulkyne National Park, July 2009

Pumping Machinery to bring water from the River Murray to flood wetlands in the Hattah Kulkyne National Park, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Red Gum Tree suffering water stress, July 2009

Red Gum Tree suffering water stress, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Tempini Orchards near Lake Boga, trees grown on reclaimed saline land, July 2009

Tempini Orchards near Lake Boga, trees grown on reclaimed saline land, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

The Wonga Wetlands, Albury, a successful effort to recreate seasonal flooding and heal damage done to the local environment through river regulation, July 2009

The Wonga Wetlands, Albury, a successful effort to recreate seasonal flooding and heal damage done to the local environment through river regulation, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

River Murray near Barmah-Millewa Forest, July 2009

River Murray near Barmah-Millewa Forest, July 2009

Source: Author-Nicholas Breyfogle

Artesian Bore Drilling Plant in Queensland, 1900

Artesian Bore Drilling Plant in Queensland, 1900

Source: John Oxley Library

Moree Water Bore in New South Wales, 1898

Moree Water Bore in New South Wales, 1898

Source: John Oxley Library

Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919), Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation, the second Prime Minister of Australia, and a major player in establishing irrigation in Australia.

Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919), Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation, the second Prime Minister of Australia, and a major player in establishing irrigation in Australia.

Source: Public Domain

Captain Charles Napier Sturt (28 April 1795 – 16 June 1869)-- an English explorer of Australia who led several expeditions into the interior. He found that all east-west rivers merged into the Murray River as he searched for an "inland sea".

Captain Charles Napier Sturt (28 April 1795 – 16 June 1869)-- an English explorer of Australia who led several expeditions into the interior. He found that all east-west rivers merged into the Murray River as he searched for an "inland sea".

Source: Public Domain

Apparatus to separate artesian water from natural gas, 1900s

Apparatus to separate artesian water from natural gas, 1900s

Source: John Oxley Library

George Woodroffe Goyder (in 1869), Surveyor of Australia who demarcated the Goyder Line of rainfall, north of which the climate prohibited sustained agriculture

George Woodroffe Goyder (in 1869), Surveyor of Australia who demarcated the Goyder Line of rainfall, north of which the climate prohibited sustained agriculture

Source: Public Domain

Elwood Mead, American Chairman of Victoria's Rivers and Water Supply Commission

Elwood Mead, American Chairman of Victoria's Rivers and Water Supply Commission

Source: Public Domain

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Cite this Site

Nicholas Breyfogle , "Dry Days Down Under: Australia and the World Water Crisis" , Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

April, 2010

https://origins.osu.edu/index.php/article/dry-days-down-under-australia-and-world-water-crisis.