Murray Irrigation Area

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The Murray Irrigation Area is geographically located within the Riverina area of New South Wales, between Mulwala and Moulamein. It was created to control and divert the flow of local river and creek systems for the purpose of food production. The main river system feeding and fed by the area is the Murray River.

Much of the water is supplied via the Mulwala Canal, flowing from Lake Mulwala. Water supply is provided by Murray Irrigation Limited, a company formed by the New South Wales governement in 1995. Murray Irrigation purchases water directly from the New South Wales State Water Corporation.^[1]

The system is regarded as a major engineering achievement comprising an elaborate series of weirs, canals and holding ponds (fed by upstream rivers and dams), including a large syphon where the Mulwala Canal flows under the Edward River.

Many of the towns within the area which include Deniliquin and Jerilderie.

The irrigation area has become increasingly controversial in the early twenty-first century, after consecutive years of drought and a growing Australian population have led to demands for greater levels of water conservation.

[edit] References

1. ^ Murray Irrigation Limited - Corporate overview. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.