A restriction on the trade of water downstream of the Narrows (previously referred to as the Barmah Choke) has been active since 2014 to protect water delivery to existing entitlement holders and to maintain the local river environment.
MDBA executive director of river management, Jacqui Hickey, said the opening balance is lower than last season.
“The opening balance for the Barmah Narrows is based on last year’s water allocations.
“On July 1, we expect about 24 gigalitres to be available for downstream trade, which is around 14 gigalitres less than last year,” Ms Hickey said.
“In 2025-26, state water allocations in the River Murray System were not as high as 2024-25. That’s why the opening balance is down this year.”
Each year the MDBA makes this information available ahead of the new season to allow water users to make plans.
“Water can always be traded from downstream to upstream of the Narrows, but upstream to downstream trades can only occur when there’s enough balance available and that’s what this 24 GL represents,” Ms Hickey said.
“Despite lower allocations, early operational planning indicates that competition for water downstream of the Narrows in the 2026-27 water year is expected to require extended periods of delivery at or around channel capacity.
“Therefore, there are no plans to relax the Barmah Choke trade restriction in 2026–27.
“The rules are set under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement between the Commonwealth and Basin governments.”
River managers will continue to monitor storage levels, demand, allocations and climate forecasts as planning for the new water year continues.
Market participants are encouraged to read the trade management protocol developed jointly by the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and WaterNSW.
For more information on the Barmah Narrows trade balance and how the opening balance is calculated, go to Barmah Narrows trade balance | Murray–Darling Basin Authority.
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