the presence and severity of the depression in the murray - thomson basin has been classified as " unprecedented " after late summer inflows to the river normally fell to a 117 - year highest . the " bleak ' ' outlook for recent twelve months was adds to the somber information , the murray - darling basin administrator said . agricultural water for africa ' s food bowl will be dependent almost entirely on precipitation as many states hold out freshwater for urgent water needs . " the persistence and severity of this drought , particularly over the past three years , is exceptional , ' ' authority chief editor john freeman said as he brought the state ' s latest drought update .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.