A4- Integrated Drainage Basin Management (IDBM) – Murray–Darling Basin

Future possibilities for management intervention in drainage basins

Integrated Drainage Basin Management (IDBM)

Managing a river basin as one connected system, balancing water use for agriculture, people, and ecosystems across the entire drainage basin

Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)

Government organisation responsible for coordinating water management across multiple Australian states within the Murray–Darling Basin

Murray–Darling Basin Plan (2012)

Australian policy designed to restore river health by reducing water extraction and increasing environmental flows

Water recovery target (MDB Plan 2012)

Aims to return 3,200 GL (gigalitres) of water per year to the environment

How IDBM works (holistic management)

Manages the entire basin together, considering upstream and downstream users, groundwater, and ecosystems as one linked system

Benefits of IDBM

Improves long-term sustainability, restores ecosystems, and reduces over-extraction of water

Costs of IDBM

Expensive, politically difficult, and reduces water available for agriculture

Murray–Darling irrigators (farmers)

Agricultural water users (e.g. cotton and rice farmers) who prioritise irrigation for food production and profit

National Farmers’ Federation (NFF)

Represents farmers in Australia and supports higher water allocations for agriculture

Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)

Government body enforcing Basin Plan rules and prioritising long-term river health

WWF Australia (environmental group)

Environmental organisation that campaigns for increased environmental flows and wetland protection

Stakeholder conflict (Murray–Darling Basin)

Farmers prioritise irrigation and economic output, while MDBA and WWF prioritise ecosystem protection and sustainable water use

Local communities (Murray–Darling Basin)

Towns dependent on both farming economies and healthy river systems for jobs and water supply