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Geography & Environmental Studies Resource Guide

Murray-Darling Basin--Some Key Documents

Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (2008) [web access]
[In July 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) committed to Basin-wide management and planning, through new structures and partnerships]

Basin salinity management strategy : 2001-2015 (2001) [web access]
[A framework for State salinity strategies, catchment management strategies and Land & Water Manangement Plans to work together for common objectives]

Biodiversity plan for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (2001) [print]
[Provides guidance on the priority issues for the conservation, management and rehabilitation of the region's flora and fauna]

CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields reports (2008) [web access]
[A major research project on current and future water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin. It includes reports on 18 regions and an overall Basin report]

The Darling (2004) [print]
[Deals with the natural history, geology and history of the Darling river]

Dryland regional strategy, Murray-Darling Basin, South Australia (1998) [print]
[This report from the Soil Boards CARE Committee summarises & sets priorities for natural resource management across the region]

Environmental indicators for national state of the environment reporting : inland waters (1998) [web access]
[This report follows up the publication Australia : State Of The Environment which was the first comprehensive assessment of Australia's environment. Also available in print format]

Environmental flows for the River Murray (2005) [web access]
[Outlines South Australia's proposed framework for collective action to restore river health 2005-2010]

Floodplain wetlands management strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin (1998) [print]
[Report from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission which has the goal of maintaining and enhancing floodplain wetland ecosystems in the Murray-Darling Basin]

Fresh history of the Lakes (2004) [web access]
[A history of the Lakes: Wellington to the Murray Mouth, 1800's to 1935]

Guide to the proposed Basin Plan Vol 1 (2010)[web access]
[From Murray-Darling Basin Authority]

Integrated catchment management in the Murray-Darling Basin : 2001-2010 (2001) [web access]
[Outlines an approach to integrated catchment management premised upon a sustainable future for the Basin & its communities. Also available in print format]

Integrated natural resource management plan for the South Australian Murray-Darling basin (2004) [web access]
[Plan aimed at the fully integrated management of all natural resources within the Murray-Darling basin of S.A.]

Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project (2009) [web access]
[A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project]

The Murray (1990) [print]
[Deals with the natural history, geology and history of the basin]

Murray-Darling Basin groundwater : a resource for the future (1999) [print]
[Overview of groundwater systems of the Basin]

Murray-Darling basin resources (1997) [print]
[An audit of the natural, economic and human resources of the Basin]

Native vegetation of the Murray Region (2006) [print]
[A guide to the identification, protection and restoration of native vegetation communities and plant species of the South Australian Murray Darling Basin. Also available in CD-ROM format]

Regional options for the SA MDB NRM region (2004) [web access]
[A series of recommendations by a Steering Committee on the regional options for the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board]

Report of the Independent Auditors for Salinity 2008-09 [web access]

Review of Cap Implementation 2005/06 (2007) [web access]
[Identifies the progress in each of the states and the ACT in establishing and/or operating the Cap]

River Murray wetlands, their characteristics, significance and management (1986) [print]
[A report on a study of wetlands along the South Australian section of the River Murray (including Lower Lakes and Coorong) 1983-1986]

Salinity audit of the Murray-Darling Basin : a 100-year perspective, 1999 [web access]
[Presents data on the extent of the salinity threat in the Murray-Darling Basin & considers the economic & environmental impacts. Also available in print format]

South Australian River Murray Wetlands ten year plan (1994) [print]
[A ten year management plan produced by the South Australian River Murray Wetlands Management Committee for floodplain wetlands in the South Australian River Murray Valley]

Water politics in the Murray-Darling Basin (2007) [print]
[The crisis in the Murray Darling Basin is reviewed and a new institutional system of governance is proposed]

Wetland GIS of the Murray-Darling Basin (1999) [print]
[A report to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission on the distribution and extent of wetlands across the Murray-Darling Basin. Additional data is available in CD-ROM format]

Wetland management : a manual for wetlands of the River Murray in South Australia (1993) [print]
[Aimed to assist wetland managers in rehabilitation, improvement or maintenance of wetlands]

Wetlands atlas of the South Australian Murray Valley (1996) [print]
[A summary of information on Murray Valley wetlands as a basis for integrated catchment management]

Murray-Darling Basin--Key Organisations

Murray-Darling Basin Authority 
[Responsible for planning integrated management of the water resources of the Murray–Darling Basin]

EPA: Water Quality in South Australia
[The Environment Protection Authority (SA) investigates and reports on water quality issues in South Australia. Details of their water publications are linked here]

Eco-Social Sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin Research Network
[This network seeks to develop a series of interdisciplinary models of best practice in social and environmental sustainability, using the Murray-Darling Basin as a major case study]

National Dryland Salinity Program
[Between 1993 and 2005 this was Australia's lead research and development program investigating dryland salinity. The information generated by the program is available from their website]

SA Murray Darling Basin Integrated Natural Resource Management Group
[The principle purpose of the Group has been to prepare an Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan and accompanying Investment Strategies for the region]

South Australia Dept of Water : Rivers, Reservoirs & groundwater
[The department is a key player in the  management of the State's natural resources]

South Australian Water Corporation - River Murray Operations Unit 
[The contracting authority to the Murray Darling Basin Commission for the operation and maintenance of the River Murray control structures in S.A.]

Murray-Darling Basin--Library Catalogue & Databases

Use the library catalogue to search for books. Keyword searching is probably the best search option, but  remember to incorporate keyword searching techniques such as phrase searching, truncation and Boolean operators. Here are some examples:

"darling river"
"lower lakes" or "murray mouth" or coorong
"murray river" and (salinity or salinization)

Use databases to find journal articles. Choose an appropriate database from the Geography/Environmental Studies databases list (see especially the databases for Australian topics)

Last update: 18th Aug 2010 Helen Attar