31,000 new dams in Murray-Darling basin

An extra 31,000 dams were built in the Murray-Darling basin in the decade to 2005,
as the region grappled with severe drought.
Federal government experts studied satellite imagery of the basin's eastern areas to
map the proliferation of water storages, largely farm dams.
The number of dams increased by 31,000, or six per cent, a result described by the
experts as "seemingly large".
Many of the new dams were built around cities and towns. Dam hot-spots included
Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Tamworth and Toowoomba.
In some areas, the number of dams increased by 20 per cent.
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission released the report, called Mapping the Growth,
Location, Surface Area and Age of Man Made Water Bodies, including Farm Dams, in the
Murray-Darling Basin.