the persistence and severity of the crisis in the murray - darling basin has been praised as " unprecedented " after late summer liquidity to the river system fell to a 117 - year minimum . the " bleak ' ' outlook for next three months was adding to the grim news , the murray - pitt basin authorities say . irrigation water for australia ' s food bowl will be dependent almost entirely on rainfall as basin governments grant back freshwater for major human expenses . " the persistence and severity of this flooding , particularly over the past three years , is unprecedented , ' ' agency group executive rob thomas said as he transmitted the project ' s latest drought alert .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.