35°31′20″S144°57′38″E / 35.52222°S 144.96056°E /-35.52222; 144.96056The Murray Irrigation Area is geographically located within theRiverina area ofNew South Wales, betweenMulwala andMoulamein. It was created to control and divert the flow of local river and creek systems for the purpose of food production. The main river system feeding and fed by the area is theMurray River.
Much of the water is supplied via theMulwala Canal, flowing fromLake Mulwala. Water supply is provided byMurray Irrigation Limited, a company formed by the New South Wales government in 1995. Murray Irrigation purchases water directly from the New South WalesState Water Corporation.[1]
The system is regarded as a major engineering achievement comprising an elaborate series of weirs, canals and holding ponds (fed by upstream rivers and dams), including the large Lawsonsyphon where the Mulwala Canal flows under theEdward River.
Anabranches of the Murray including the Edward River and theWakool River are also managed to provide irrigation water to irrigators along those waterways. Managed flow along those waterways bears little correlation to natural flow regimes, with peak flows occurring during peak irrigation demand (summer) rather than during peak runoff (early spring).[citation needed]
Irrigated agriculture is the main industry of the towns within the area which includeFinley,Deniliquin andJerilderie.
The irrigation area has become increasingly controversial in the early 21st century, after consecutive years of drought and a growing Australian population have led to demands for greater levels of water conservation.[citation needed]
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