Murray-Darling lower lakes were largely fresh before European settlement, CSIRO review finds

River mouth is being managed correctly, scientists say - despite the claims of irrigators in NSW and Victoria

A CSIRO review of the lower lakes of the Murray-Darling system has found that the lakes were largely fresh before European settlement, and that environmental flows and barrages used to keep out seawater are appropriate, a finding that will please South Australia but disappoint irrigators in New South Wales and Victoria.

Sending water down the Murray to maintain its flow and keep seawater out has been a major point of contention under the Murray-Darling basin plan.