The current dry state of the Goulburn River at the drip picnic area is a worry, when many of the side creeks downstream are still flowing. The cease of surface flow is due to a combination of factors most significantly the interception by coal mining of around 15-30 Million litres per day of groundwater and surface rainfall runoff.  This means the river has lost base flows which are critical to maintaining flows during extended dry periods.

The further expansion of mining close to the Drip will significantly exacerbate this and threaten the long term viability of the river and groundwater system.