Source: DAWE (2021c); map produced by Environment Resources Information Network, Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, May 2011
We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.
For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.
Click to view the State of the Environment report
On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.
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Graphs, maps and tables
Showing results 11 - 20 of 51
Figure 11 Map of the Great Artesian Basin
Figure 12 Urban system water sources and volumes, 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2020
Figure 13 Recycled water used in major urban centres, 2015–16 to 2019–20
- Canberra does not use recycled water.
Source: BOM (2021c)
Figure 14 Streamflow deciles at long-term monitoring stations throughout Australia, 2016–20
Figure 15 Waterbird abundance in major river basins, 2018–19
Figure 16 Menindee Lakes combined storage volume, January 2017 to May 2021
GL = gigalitre
Source: River Murray data (2021)
Figure 17 (a) Menindee Lakes on 2 February 2019, with the green colour in the lakes caused by algae and other vegetation; (b) on 14 May 2021, with the milky grey colour due to suspended sediment stirred up by the filling of the lakes
Figure 18 Open gates between Lake Pamamaroo and Lake Menindee, and the return of bird life to the Menindee Lakes, May 2021
Photos: Sigrid Tijs, Bureau of Meteorology
Figure 19 Pelicans on Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, and fish filling the river in Birdsville
Photos: Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales, Brendan Esposito, © 2019 ABC
Figure 20 Changes in wetland area, 1983–2019
