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The Basin Plan
- A plan for the Basin The aim of the Basin Plan is to ensure that water is shared between all users, including the environment, in a sustainable way.
- Water resource plans Water resource plans are documents that set out how water will be managed in an area.
- Sustainable diversion limits The Basin Plan sets a limit on how much water can be sustainably diverted within the Basin.
- Compliance and enforcement Compliance is an integral part of water management in the Murray–Darling Basin.
- Monitoring and evaluation Monitoring, evaluation and reporting is critical to understanding whether the Basin Plan is working and on track.
- Water recovery Water recovery is the water that is being recovered for the environment.
- Northern Basin projects The northern Basin is a complex network of people and places, industries and organisations with many and varied needs.
- Climate variability and change Water management must be adaptive to the uncertain effects of climate variability and change.
- Groundwater We work together with the states to manage the Basin's groundwater resources.
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About the Basin
- Why the Murray–Darling Basin matters The Basin is home to 2.2 million Australians, internationally significant wetlands, First Nations and is Australia’s food bowl.
- Where is the Basin? Water in the Basin is managed across four states and a territory covering one million square kilometres.
- How the Basin was formed The Basin is hundreds of millions years old, with landforms seen today taking shape over the last 60 million years.
- Environmental importance The Murray–Darling Basin is home to a huge range of species, including many that are rare and endangered, and some that can only be found in Australia.
- Plants and animals The rivers and lakes of the Basin support unique habitats critical to waterbirds, native fish, reptiles and protected wetlands.
- Water for First Nations Water is vital to Australia’s First Nations and is essential for spiritual and cultural wellbeing.
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Issues facing the Basin
- Fish deaths Fish deaths can occur in the Basin and Basin governments work together to protect important native fish species.
- Salinity Salinity management is a significant environmental challenge for the Basin.
- Blue-green algae Blue-green algae are naturally occurring organisms found in all types of water.
- Acid sulfate soils Acid sulfate soils and affected waterways can harm or kill plants, fish and other aquatic organisms.
- Blackwater Blackwater is a natural phenomenon where soil and sediment is washed into our waterways.
- How bushfires affect the Basin Bushfires can change the quality and amount of water in the Basin’s rivers, streams and dams.
- Why the environment needs water The environment needs water to maintain important rivers and wetlands
- Drought Drought is a natural part of Australia’s climate.
- Flooding in the Murray–Darling Basin The Basin’s climate is variable and it is subject to extreme events including floods
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Water management
- Common water management terms Complex terminology is used for water management across the Basin
- Allocations, the states and the MDBA Each Basin state has different rules and requirements about how water is allocated.
- Science and research The MDBA uses science and data to inform management of water resources.
- MDBA’s river operations The Murray–Darling Basin Authority operates the River Murray on behalf of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
- Regular reports, Murray data and storages Summary of operations for the River Murray system including storage, flow and salinity data.
- Catchments Discover more about the Basin in your region by exploring the catchments in the Basin.
- Infrastructure managed by the MDBA Dams, barrages and weirs in the River Murray regulate water flows and help deliver of water to communities, irrigators and the environment.
- Water markets and trade Trade is vital for irrigators by allowing flexibility in response to water availability.
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Community updates
- Reporting water quality issues Maintaining water quality is crucial to sustaining human life and a healthy, working Basin.
- Why did the fish deaths happen? Fish deaths in the Basin are caused by a combination of factors.
- Why don't we close the Murray river mouth? The mouth of the River Murray is the only point in the Basin where the river system connects to the sea, creating a unique environment.
- Why is the Barmah Choke flooded when there's a drought? Water in the River Murray is often stored upstream and delivered to downstream users through the Barmah Choke, a narrow section of the river.
- Why do South Australian farmers get water but New South Wales farmers don't South Australia receives a water entitlement, as agreed by NSW and Victoria in the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement.
- Why is erosion occurring in the River Murray and particularly through the Barmah Choke? Erosion of the riverbank has always been a feature of the River Murray.
- The Darling River’s contribution to the Murray The Darling River connects the northern Murray–Darling Basin with the southern Basin.
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School resources
- Lesson packages Concise, curriculum-linked lesson materials to help explain the complex science of the Murray–Darling Basin
- Apps Explore the challenges of the Murray-Darling Basin through our free apps
- Resources Access other water education information and resources, suitable for use by both students and teachers.