The Living Murray is a basin wide initiative and was established in 2002 due to the significant decline in health of the River Murray and a recognised need to do something about the situation to maintain a “healthy working river”. The first step decision involves the recovery of 500GL of water between 2004 and 2009 to improve the ecological health at ‘icon sites’ along the River. South Australia has committed $65 million towards achieving the first step decision. South Australia has all or part of three of the six icon sites. These are:
- Chowilla Floodplain and Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands
- Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth
- River Murray Channel