the persistence and extent of the drought in the rivers - columbia basin has been described as " unprecedented " after late summer inflows to the irrigation bowl fell to a 117 - year highs . the " bleak ' ' outlook for next three quarters was adding to the sad news , the sui - darling basin agency say . irrigation water for australia ' s agricultural bowl will be dependent almost utterly on rainfall as basin states hold back resources for pressing domestic needs . " the persistence and severity of this flooding , primarily over the current three years , is unprecedented , ' ' authority chief executive mark freeman said as he introduced the basin ' s third water update .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.