FOREWORD
he Murray is a different river now from what it was when the majestic
paddle steamers were plying their trade between its banks at the turn of the
century, yet for those of us who have had the privilege to spend time
enjoying its changing moods, endless scenery and tranquil beauty, the river has lost
little of its allure.
Recent human endeavor has changed the river forever. The Murray-Darling
Basin is now the food basket of Australia, providing a living for approximately two
million people and with an annual production worth many billions of dollars. This
inland water system also supports a thriving recreation and tourism industry, much
of it centered around boating, including the operation of the remaining paddle
steamers.
This wealth has come at a price, however. Millions of trees have been removed
from the Murray's floodplain, initially to power the paddle steamers and then to
provide land for farming, horticulture and regional development. Major dams have
been built to harness water for irrigation and domestic water supply and the system
of locks and weirs built to provide navigation. All of this has reduced river flows
and affected the nature of floods that breathe life into the river.
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