The Hydrological Cycle can be defined as the evapotransportation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, percolation, and runoff of water within a specific ecosystem. In general terms, the hydraulic cycle is simply the movement of water through a particular ecosystem. A useful diagram to illustrate this cycle can be found at www.bryant.edu/~langlois/ecology/hydrologiccycle.html .

Courtesy of: www.nativefish.asn.au

The Darling-Murray Basin region of Australia is subject to incredible variations in precipitation (and weather in general), and therefore this region’s hydrological cycle uniquely effects the Darling River. For example, Australia’s climate and highly variable precipitation caused discharge (runoff) at the mouth of the Murray-Darling system to range from 1,626GL (gigalitres) to 54,000 GL during the period ranging from 1894 to 1993 (www.mdbc.gov.au ). In fact, between 1885 and 1960, the Darling River ceased to flow on 48 separate occasions. On the other extreme, " In April 1990, large areas along the darling and a number of it’s tributaries… were devastated" (www.mdbc.gov.au ) because of floods.

Due to the delicate interdependence of the Darling-Murray basin’s Hydrological Cycle, commerce, and (ultimately) culture, great consideration must be given to the preservation of natural resources, especially water management. In effect, the Darling-Murray Basin’s agricultural, industrial, and personal institutions must take precautions to reserve enough water to sustain their day to day operations and simultaneously protecting the environment.