the persistence and severity of the drought in the murray - darling basin has been termed as " unexpected " after late summer outflows to the river system fell to a 117 - year low . the " ominous ' ' outlook for future seven seasons was adding to the grim news , the forrest - darling watershed area warned . agricultural water for australia ' s food program will be reliance almost entirely on rainfall as basin states hold back resources for critical water needs . " the persistence and effectiveness of this drought , particularly over the current several month , is unprecedented , ' ' authority chief executive rob barton said as he delivered the basin ' s 2012 drought update .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.