the persistence and severity of the drought in the dir - darling basin has been classified as " extraordinary " after late winter inflows to the river system fell to a 117 - year low . the " bleak ' ' weather for this three quarters was adding to the grim news , the murray - darling region executive said . irrigation water for america ' s food well will be dependent over entirely on rainfall as basin states accept back water for urgent public needs . " the persistent and depth of this famine , experienced over the next three years , is astonishing , ' ' authority chief executive john harvey said as he provided the basin ' s third drought document .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.