Menindee nightshade The threatened Menindee nightshade (Solanum karsense) is named after the Menindee region, one of the locations where it is known to occur. It is a grey-green downy forb with spines scattered along the stems, bearing purple flowers (typically solanum-type) in spring. The Menindee nightshade is restricted to the far south-western plains of NSW, mainly in the area between the Darling and Lachlan rivers, along the Darling between Menindee and Wilcannia, and across to Broken Hill. It has been recorded from Kinchega National Park near Menindee. Water supply A weir on the Darling River near Menindee diverts water from the river into a series of shallow, otherwise dry, overflow lakes. The Menindee Lakes, also known as the Menindee Water Storage Scheme, regulate the river flow for irrigation downstream into South Australia. Menindee residents had complained about the town's "putrid" water quality and claimed that cotton growers were removing water from the river during the recent drought. Generally the health of river systems is reliant on summer rains. Some locals were carting water from other sources. The WaterNSW advised property owners not to water their stock from the Darling. The river is subject to blooms of blue green algae in summer. Richard Kingsford, Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of NSW said the Menindee Lakes had been drained more often than in the past. In July 2018, 23 gigalitres of environmental water was delivered to the Darling River; this reconnected isolated parts of the river and flushed out algae. In early 2019, up to one million native fish were found dead along a 40-kilometre stretch of the river in Menindee, including the large and critically endangered Murray cod. The apparent trigger for these deaths was a sudden drop in temperature, causing much of the algae bloom to decompose. The levels of dissolved oxygen in the river then fell too low for the fish to survive. Widespread rainfall over north-west NSW and southern Queensland during January/February 2020 started to flow into Menindee Lakes (Lake Wetherell) on 10 March. It was estimated that over 550 gigalitres would reach Menindee Lakes as a result of this flow event. Increased numbers of waterbirds have been observed in the area. The area flooded again in early 2023. Climate Menindee has a hot desert climate (BWh) under the Köppen climate classification, featuring hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The annual average