The landscapes of the Basin are varied and extreme. There are subtropical rainforests in the north, southern alpine meadows and snowfields and western semi-arid deserts.
The rivers and lakes of the Basin support unique habitats critical to waterbirds, native fish, reptiles and protected wetlands.
Our reliance on the Basin
Water is needed for farming, communities, industries, indigenous cultural practices, and plants and animals. These competing needs must be balanced for a sustainable future.
We’re continually improving our understanding of the complex connections between climate, river flows, and river-related outcomes for communities, industries, and the environment.
Evaluating the use of water for the environment to protect native fish in northern Basin rivers.
What lies beneath the water?
For a second year, citizen scientists have collected water samples for the Great Australian Wildlife Search. This project uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to investigate what aquatic animals are living in our waterbodies.
We work with state governments to manage water and infrastructure in the Murray–Darling Basin. Water is managed to make sure it’s safe and delivered to the people who need it. We manage water to protect our rivers for generations.
We’re preparing for the 2026 Basin Plan Review, to make sure the Basin Plan continues to respond to changing environment, community and industry needs, as we protect rivers for generations.
Groundwater is stored in fractured rocks, porous rocks and soils called aquifers, it can be connected to surface water, which includes the water in our rivers and wetlands.
Hume Dam
Hume Reservoir plays a vital role in water management, energy production, and flood control – while also serving as a key site for tourism and recreation.
Water is used for a variety of purposes within the Murray–Darling Basin. There are rules around how water is shared. Once allocated, water can be used, stored, traded or reallocated.
Trade is vital for irrigators by allowing flexibility in response to water availability.
Water Take Report
The MDBA publishes an annual Water Take Report which analyses the data and longer-term trends of water use based on the sustainable diversion limits (SDL) Registers of Take.
We provide educational posters, maps, and more that you can download.
Constraints Relaxation Implementation Roadmap
The Roadmap has been developed to assist the Commonwealth and Basin states to identify, develop, and implement measures to relax constraints and provide a pathway for a common approach across river systems and jurisdictions.
We are committed to good and transparent governance. Here you will find information about our planning, reporting and other documentation about our business.
Early work is underway to design a replacement for the Mildura Weir — an essential piece of infrastructure that has supported water delivery, navigation and recreation in the region for nearly...
Explore the unique conversations and opportunities between the northern and southern Basin with Regional Engagement Officers (REOs) Annabelle Guest and Kate Bartlett.
Water agencies are working closely to manage water quality in the Menindee Lakes and the lower Darling-Baaka in far west New South Wales (NSW) over summer to ensure local communities,...
More than 100 people joined us for our first public webinar for the Basin Plan Review to hear our experts unpack the Early Insights Paper. If you missed it or want a recap, here’s everything...
Each month we sit down and have a chat with one of our 6 Regional Engagement Officers across the Basin. This month we caught up with Richard Unsworth, the man the community relies upon in the...
People along the Murray and Darling rivers near Wentworth are advised that the Lock 10 weir pool will be lowered to between 20 and 30 cm below the full supply level (FSL) of 30.8 m Australian...
After a series of listening tours and meeting with more than 200 First Nations people in the northern Basin, the message is overwhelmingly clear: we need to work better and walk forward...
Annabelle Guest has lived and worked in northern New South Wales (NSW) for more than 30 years and is also celebrating 6 years as a Regional Engagement Officer (REO) in the Namoi and Gwydir...