River Murray data
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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.
Basin Plan Evaluation The Basin Plan is evaluated every 5 years. The next evaluation will be completed in 2025.
Monitoring Monitoring and reporting are 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.
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.
Irrigation trends in the Basin Over two-thirds of Australia's irrigation occurs in the Murray–Darling Basin.
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.
Report water quality issues or fish deaths Find out where to report water quality issues or fish deaths, or get information about water quality after bushfires.
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.
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.
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.
How are dams being managed to reduce the impact of flooding? The MDBA aims to make sure dam structures remain safe during floods.
The Darling River's contribution to the Murray The Darling River connects the northern Murray–Darling Basin with the southern Basin.
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.
News, media & events
Newsroom Stay up to date with the latest news, media releases, communiques and more. Subscribe to our email list to receive the latest media releases.​
Newsletters Subscribe to our River Reach newsletter, River Operations weekly reports and more.​
Get involved Learn more about our current projects and contribute to our common goal of achieving a healthy working Basin for the benefit of the Australian community.
Webinars Learn more about water management and river operations by joining our regular webinars.​
River reflections conference River reflections is an annual regional conference hosted by the MDBA. Learn more about the annual conference and how to attend.
Social media Connect with us. Join our Facebook community, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Regional community forums The MDBA has established 6 regional forums to represent local communities across the Basin. Find out more about a regional community forum near you.
A plan for the Basin
Water resource plans
Sustainable diversion limits
Compliance and enforcement
Basin Plan Evaluation
Water recovery
Northern Basin projects
Climate variability and change
Why the Murray–Darling Basin matters
Where is the Basin?
How the Basin was formed
Environmental importance
Water for First Nations
Irrigation trends in the Basin
Why the environment needs water
Flooding in the Murray–Darling Basin
Fish deaths
Acid sulfate soils
How bushfires affect the Basin
Report water quality issues or fish deaths
Common water management terms
Allocations, the states and the MDBA
MDBA's river operations
Regular reports, Murray data and storages
Infrastructure managed by the MDBA
Water markets and trade
Why did the fish deaths happen?
Why don't we close the Murray river mouth?
Why is the Barmah Choke flooded when there's a drought?
Why do South Australian farmers get water but New South Wales farmers don't
How are dams being managed to reduce the impact of flooding?
The Darling River's contribution to the Murray
Why is erosion occurring in the River Murray and particularly through the Barmah Choke?
River reflections conference
Regional community forums
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HomeNews, media & eventsRegional community forums
A healthy, productive river system is vital to communities across the Murray–Darling Basin that rely on it to sustain their lives and livelihoods.
Basin communities hold generations of local river knowledge and experience. Tapping into this understanding will add value to all levels of water management from local to Basin-scale decisions.
The MDBA has established regional community forums to strengthen the capture and use of this knowledge. Memebers include a diverse cross-section of local communities with a knowledge of, or interest in, the environment, agriculture, climate, or natural resource management.
Participants have the opportunity to build their knowledge about the science of their region and the Basin, see the role of science in decision making, and contribute to the MDBA science and monitoring program.
Forum members are contributing their understanding and local knowledge to build on existing science of the Basin and influence monitoring and evaluation strategy development, which is key to better understanding and implementation of water management reform.
The forums, comprising up to 20 people, have been established in 6 regions:
Border Region, Queensland/New South Wales
Central West Region, New South Wales
Riverina, New South Wales
Upper Murray, Mid Murray and Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District, New South Wales
Sunraysia and Lower Darling, New South Wales/Victoria
South Australian Murray
Partnerships and engagement
Updated: 13 Aug 2021
MDBA office locations | First Nations Country
Adelaide | Kaurna
Canberra | Ngunnawal
Goondiwindi | Bigambul
Griffith | Wiradjuri
Mildura | Latji Latji
Murray Bridge | Ngarrindjeri
Toowoomba | Jarowair and Wakka Wakka
Wodonga | Dhudhuroa
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout the Murray–Darling Basin and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past, present and emerging.
About the MDBA
Staff and Partners