Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published April 20, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 20, 2007 at 2:03 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Drought threatens irrigation supply for much of Australia

Australia's worst drought on record got tougher Thursday when the prime minister announced there won't be enough water for irrigation along...

The Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia's worst drought on record got tougher Thursday when the prime minister announced there won't be enough water for irrigation along the country's largest river system unless there's significant rainfall soon.

Prime Minister John Howard, releasing a new report on the health of the Murray-Darling rivers, said the dry spell was "unprecedentedly dangerous" for Australian farmers and the economy as a whole.

"If it doesn't rain in sufficient volume over the next six to eight weeks, there will be no water allocations for irrigation purposes in the basin" until May 2008, he told reporters in Canberra.

The Murray-Darling river basin spans five Australian states and accounts for about 85 percent of the nation's irrigation supply. The waterway generates around 40 percent of Australia's farm produce and supplies drinking water for the South Australia state capital, Adelaide.

But the country's prolonged drought has reduced the rivers to a trickle, crippling Australia's farming sector and forcing many cities and towns to enact drastic water restrictions as reservoirs dry up.

Howard said there would be water only for "critical urban supplies" plus farmers' domestic use and watering stock.

"The impact that this is going to have on industry, on the horticultural industry and crops like grapes and stone fruits and other primary industries that rely on irrigation, including the dairy industry, is very critical indeed," Howard said.

National Farmers' Federation Chief Executive Ben Fargher said thousands of farmers could lose their citrus, almond and olives trees if they cannot be watered this year.

Climatologist Blair Trewin, of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, said the basin's northeast had more than a 60 percent chance of above-average rainfall before June. The southern part was likely to experience average rain in the same period.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate

S.C. gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws

U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show

Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm

India's feeling bruised even before White House visit

Advertising

Video

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
A little friendly competition between professional pie-baker Kate McDermott and The Seatttle Times' Kathleen Triesch Saul is handled with great taste.

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising