The recent drought in south-eastern Australia saw the lowest inflows on record in the Murray–Darling Basin in 2006. As reservoirs were drawn down water availability for irrigation was cut. In 2007–2008 and 2008–2009, irrigators received about one third of their pre-drought allocations....

An integrated biophysical and economic model is used to determine the effects of using more water efficient irrigation systems and trade in water rights on the environmental performance of irrigation enterprises in the Mooki catchment within the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. We find that...