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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

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

Inland Water

Written by Janice Green and Assoc. Prof Bradley Moggridge.

winanga-l guwaa-l gawuban gunigal

Listen and talk to the connected waters

Kamilaroi Nation
As the driest inhabited continent, Australia’s water is one of our most valuable resources. Water sustains our environment and our people and has deep cultural meaning for Indigenous peoples. Our inland rivers, creeks, lakes and wetlands are the lifeblood of the Australian landscape and need careful stewardship.  
Barmah Forest by Lin Onus
Key Findings
Find out the main messages of the report. Each chapter has 10 key points that summarise the findings of the chapter.
Start with Key findings
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Outlook and impacts
Where are we headed? Understand the outlook of our inland water systems, based on how they are tracking now and how we are managing them. Also find out how recent change will affect our health and our wellbeing.
Start with Outlook and impacts
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Environment
How are the different aspects of our inland water systems tracking? Explore the condition of Australian water sources, natural water systems, Indigenous water and water quality.
Start with Environment
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Pressures
What are the pressures on our inland water? Identify the main climate, human and industry pressures on our rives, lakes and water storages, and find out how they are affecting environmental health and our own wellbeing.
Start with Pressures
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Management
How effective is our management of inland water systems? Discover the main environmental management interventions and actions, and how well they protect our environment and minimise the impact of pressures.
Start with Management
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Chapter resources
Find out about the chapter authors and their analysis approach, the artwork appearing in the chapter, and the available supplementary material.
Explore Authors and acknowledgments
Explore Assessments
Explore Graphs, maps and tables
Explore Case studies
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Explore findings from Inland water
Water sustains life
Climate change threatens our water resources
Water use, especially irrigation, is a major pressure on Australia’s water
Better water management – which balances competing interests, involves Traditional Custodians and considers climate change – will sustain this vital resource
Infographic showing that changing patterns of rainfall, contamination of runoff by human activity, and overuse of water in irrigation and other human activity puts great strain on our inland water supplies and we must manage it with great care if we are to meet human needs as well as those of the environment.