Past Murray River Expeditions
A selection of other notable Murray River expeditions
Major Tributaries
Over the last 20 or so years, the average flow into the Murray River from the major tributaries were:
- 8,566 ML/day
- Murrumbidgee River
- 7,264 ML/day
- Upper Murray
- 4,088 ML/day
- Wakool River
- 3,188 ML/day
- Goulburn River
- 2,789 ML/day
- Mitta Mitta River
- 2,524 ML/day
- Ovens River
- 2,456 ML/day
- Darling River
- 1,651 ML/day
- Kiewa River
- 338 ML/day
- Campaspe River
The statistics change significantly if you include older records but these are likely less meaningful than the recent trends. Note that these are from gauges close to the Murray River and do not reflect the contribution that each river makes to the entire Murray Darling Basin (MDB) as a whole.
Swampy Plain River, NSW
Head:Lake Cootapatamba Elevation2,120 m
Mouth:
Bringenbrong Bridge Elevation263 m
Length62 km Drop1,857 m Slope29.95‰
Feed from Snowy Mountains Scheme, much of the Summer and Autumn flows originate here.
Grade III run from Alpine Way Bridge to Waterfall Farm with one portage.
Tooma River, NSW
Head:Mt Jagungal Elevation1,615 m
Mouth:
Tintaldra Elevation238 m
Length74 km Drop1,377 m Slope18.61‰
Part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, some water is redirected to the Tumut River that feeds into the Murrumbidgee River. The source of both the Tumut and Tooma rivers are both found in close proximity on the Toolong Ranges.
Grade III run from Alpine Way Bridge to Waterfall Farm with one portage.
Mitta Mitta River, VIC
Aboriginal: Mida-modoenga (where reeds grow)
Head: Anglers Rest Elevation694 m
Mouth:
Mitta Junction Elevation180 m
Length204 km Drop514 m Slope2.52‰
Catchment: 10,062 sq km (~0.9% MDB)
The Mitta Mitta basin in the Victorian Alps makes up just 1% of the total MDB catchment area, yet it supplies ~10% of the water flowing into the Murray Darling Basin (MDB).
Up to Grade IV with some ADF restricted sections.
Kiewa River, VIC
Aboriginal: Cy-a-nun-a wher-ra (sweet water)
Branch Confluence:
Mt Beauty Elevation323 m
Mouth:
Albury Elevation152 m
Length112 km Drop171 m Slope1.17‰
Total length: Length146 km (west branch)
Catchment: 1,750 sq km (~0.2% MDB)
Small basin making up just 0.2% of the total MDB flow (689 GL) but important for a number endangered fish species and it also has Victoria's largest hydroelectric scheme on the river.
The East Branch starts near Mt Bogong and is Length16 km long with a Drop337 m drop.
The West Branch starts near Mt Jim and is Length35 km long with a Drop990 m drop.
Goulburn River, VIC
Head:Corn Hill Elevation1,067 m
Mouth:
Echuca Elevation99 m
Length654 km Drop968 m Slope1.48‰
Catchment: 23,916 sq km (~2% MDB)
The longest river in Victoria that also has the highest discharge and flow of any river in Victoria.
Some Grade II runs in the Victorian Alps but big flat water near the Murray.
Loddon River, VIC
Head:Trentham Elevation779 m
Mouth:
Little Murray River Elevation68 m
Length392 km Drop711 m Slope1.81‰
Catchment: 15,320 sq km (~2.3% MDB)
Flows into the Victorian Little Murray River Anabranch that merges with the Murray River at Swan Hill. Much of the catchment ends up in the Avoca River that likely doesn't make it to the Murray River.
Murrumbidgee River, NSW
Wiradjuri for big water
Head:
Peppercorn Hill Elevation1,568 m
Mouth:
Boundary Bend Elevation50 m
Length1,616 km Drop1,518 m Slope0.94‰
Catchment: 84,917 sq km (~8% MDB)
Contributes 16% of the MDB water with 4,000 GL per annum.
Grade V in the upper reaches, the main waterway is fairly flat big water.
Darling River, NSW
Head:Brewarrina Elevation114 m
Mouth:
Wentworth Elevation34 m
Length1,547 km Drop80 m Slope0.05‰
Catchment: 609,283 sq km (~57% MDB)
Once flowing freely, irrigation and a drying climate have halted this once great river.
