River Murray communities in South Australia are bracing for flooding with rising water levels from heavy rain in Victoria prompting warnings for locals to be prepared.
Flows down the Murray have been increasing steadily, reaching 79 gigalitres a day last week.
The State Emergency Service expects those levels to hold steady through October before rising further to about 90 gigalitres a day in mid-November.
However, new forecasts due this week could push that figure higher after more rain upstream.
SES Chief of Staff Derren Halleday said the rising river levels had already impacted some low-lying communities.
"Unlike the flooding we have seen in NSW and Victoria, South Australia is not experiencing severe rainfall,'' he said.
"The increased flow along the River Murray is a slow-moving and natural river event.
"There is significant time for people to prepare for the increased flows and potential flooding.''
The SES said shack owners at Morgan, Brenda Park, Scotts Creek, Walker Flat and Bowhill could expect flooding.
In other areas, some business owners have already been forced to close and public infrastructure has been impacted.
From Tuesday, the riverfront road at Loxton was closed, while at nearby Berri walking trails and public barbecue sites have been inundated.
River-fronting caravan parks have also been shut down at some sites.
At Barmera, sections of the walking trail along the shores of Lake Bonney have been washed out.
While at Cadell, east of Adelaide, the Caudo Vineyard closed its cellar door operations this week due to rising water.
"The floodwaters have risen and are still rising rapidly, making it impossible for us to continue trading safely," the company said in a social media post.
SA's most recent high water events occurred in 2016 when flows at the SA-Victorian border reached 95 gigalitres a day.
The last major flood along the Murray occurred in 1974 when a number of homes and other buildings were severely impacted.
On the upside, the Department of Environment and Water said the increased river flows were having a number of positive environmental effects, bringing water to areas that have been dry for more than five years.
The rising water levels have provided benefits for river plants, native fish and other animals including frogs and water birds.
The benefits will be felt as far as the Lower Lakes and the Murray mouth, where salinity levels have fallen and water flows into the Coorong have increased.
