How would you solve the Murray River water crisis?

Question

The Murray River (longest in Australia) is in crisis with lack of water flows and is drying up. The Murray mouth where it exits to the ocean has been kept open by dredging for the last couple of years. The water level has dropped dramatically and Lake Albert above the barrages is nearly dried out. Many stretches of the river have not enough water for boats due to the lack of water. Water levels have never been this low since the barrages and locks were built in 1938-40. This has been bought about due to drought and over water allocation to farmers and irrigators. Salinity has gone up dramatically and at Goolwa is nearly as salty as the ocean.

The Federal Govt. have stepped in to manage the States allocation of water rights.

Is it too little too late? The mighty Murray River isn't mighty any more.

What would be your solution to restoring the water flows?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_River

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Nice to have an important and worthwhile question!  :-)  

Some ideas:

More efficient irrigation
(less excess water reduces the soil salinity problem)

plant less water intensive crops

Implement more efficient water use in general

reclaim and recycle water

Study climate change, find out if the prevailing winds have changed or what have you.  What was the former water cycle?  what is the current water cycle?  Can the current water cycle be enhanced or augmented to increase rainfall?

Maybe there's a way to put more seawater vapor into the air so it can rain out.

Make this a national issue.  Support politicians and political parties with good policy.  Support and promote companies like "Green and 
Gold" energy,
http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/
 and sell CPV products to other countries like the US.  This will help slow climate change.  Stop burning coal, and use other energy sources, like wind and biomass.  Build an open-cycle steam power plant powered by biomass or solar thermal.  Run saline water into it and distilled water is a byproduct.

Anonymous · Answer

i would solve it the right way =/

How would you solve the Murray River water crisis?

2 Answers