The Aporia · Menindee Lakes water levels drop to lowest in five years as experts warn of mass fish deaths

Water levels at Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales have dropped below 480 gigalitres, the lowest since 2021, prompting state water use restrictions to preserve critical human and environmental needs. Experts warn of potential mass fish deaths this summer unless flows into the Darling-Baaka River improve, citing past disasters in 2018, 2019, and 2023 that killed millions of fish. Prof Jamie Pittock from the Australian National University highlights the need for rainfall and state government intervention to prevent further ecological damage.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-28, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

Water levels at Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales have dropped to their lowest point since 2021, raising fears of mass fish deaths over summer. The combined storage fell below 480 gigalitres, triggering temporary state water restrictions across parts of the northern Murray-Darling basin. These restrictions limit access for some irrigators and are aimed at preserving water for critical human needs and environmental protection.

Experts from the Australian National University and the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists have warned that without improved flows into the Darling-Baaka River, fish kills like those seen in 2018, 2019, and 2023 could recur. In 2023 alone, millions of dead fish were found along stretches of the river due to low water levels.

Following these warnings, state ministers committed to investigating mass fish deaths after a visit by the premier, Chris Minns, who won office in the 2023 election. An expert panel under the northern basin connectivity program recommended limiting upstream overextraction during dry periods to maintain tributary flows into Menindee Lakes.

Written for “Menindee Lakes Water Crisis” on 2026-10-28, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Menindee Lakes Water Crisis

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🔮 “Government officials are predicting with a level of certainty that unless there’s more water flowing into the Baaka-Darling River that there will be fish kills at Menindee this summer,” said Prof Jamie Pittock of the Australian National University and the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Menindee Lakes water levels drop to lowest in five years as experts warn of mass fish deaths

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2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Menindee Lakes water levels drop to lowest in five years as experts warn of mass fish deaths

The only article under this byline in the corpus.

Days after winning the 2023 state election, the premier, Chris Minns, and senior state ministers visited Menindee and committed to an investigation of the mass fish kills. An expert panel was established under the northern basin connectivity program, which recommended limiting upstream overextraction during dry periods, to help maintain flows in tributaries into the Darling-Baaka River to Menindee Lakes.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-28

2026-10-28 · The Guardian

Menindee Lakes water levels drop to lowest in five years as experts warn of mass fish deaths · assertive framing

Water levels at Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales have fallen to their lowest point in five years, prompting the state government to impose upstream water use restrictions as experts warn of potential mass fish deaths over summer. asserted

experts → fall → summer

Combined storage at Menindee Lakes fell below 480 gigalitres earlier this month, the first time since 2021. asserted

storage → fall → 2021

In the upper Menindee Lakes, water volumes have dropped below 250GL, a level that triggers temporary state water restrictions across parts of the northern Murray-Darling basin. asserted

that → drop → basin

The restrictions limit access for some irrigators and are intended to preserve water for critical human needs and the environment. asserted

restrictions → limit → needs

It follows periods of low rainfall in the catchment throughout the past 12 months, with experts warning of a growing risk of summer fish kills unless flows down to Menindee Lakes via the Darling-Baaka River improve. asserted

flows → follow → River

Menindee was the site of catastrophic fish kills in 2018, 2019 and 2023, which saw millions of dead fish wash up along stretches of the Darling-Baaka. asserted

millions → see → Baaka

“Government officials are predicting with a level of certainty that unless there’s more water flowing into the Baaka-Darling River that there will be fish kills at Menindee this summer,” said Prof Jamie Pittock of the Australian National University and the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. asserted

Pittock → predict → Scientists

“We need a major rainfall event to happen and for the state governments to prevent irrigators from pumping out the first flush of water.” asserted

governments → need → water

Graeme McCrabb, who was one of the first Menindee residents to raise the alarm about the 2018-19 disasters, said the combined Menindee Lakes had reached “drought reserve volumes”. asserted

Lakes → raise → volumes

He said this effectively meant conservation of water “at all costs”. asserted

this → say → costs

McCrabb said he was hopeful that recent rainfall in Queensland may result in some replenishment of the Menindee system. uncertain

rainfall → say → system

“There are some small inflows coming across the Queensland border now which probably give us some hope for the summer. asserted

which → be → summer

But we would need more on top of that,” he said. asserted

he → need → that

“If we don’t get inflows, the risk [of fish kills] would be very high in January or February.” asserted

risk → get → January

He said a milder summer would also lower the risk. asserted

summer → say → risk

“I’m worried about fish kills to be honest,” McCrabb said. asserted

McCrabb → ’m → kills

“It’s a tough time or sad time when the water starts to get that real green algal look.” asserted

water → ’ → look

which → win → Lakes

This was to try to reduce the risk of catastrophes such as fish kills and large-scale drying. asserted

This → try → kills

The panel delivered its final report two years ago but the state government is yet to implement it. asserted

government → deliver → it

McCrabb said he was disappointed the government had not followed through on the recommendations of the connectivity panel. asserted

government → say → panel

“Since the fish kills, government agencies have made no policy changes to improve water quality outcomes,” he said. asserted

he → make → outcomes

Comment has been sought from the NSW water minister, Rose Jackson. asserted

Comment → seek → minister

Menindee Lakes water levels drop to lowest in five years as experts warn of mass fish deaths

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