Investing in our catchments: Water quality and river health
In New South Wales, Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) are playing a vital role in protecting both the health and integrity of our landscapes and waterways. Water quality is one of the fundamental aspects of good river health: ecological processes which sustain native fish populations, vegetation, wetlands and birdlife depend on it. Similarly, many of our own uses depend on water quality that is suitable for irrigation, watering stock, drinking, fishing and recreation, and to meet cultural and spiritual needs.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has developed a range of tools and models to assist CMAs assess and manage the health of NSW waterways. DECC can advise CMAs on:
- the most cost-effective ways to assess and monitor the condition of water quality and river health
- the risks and threats to water quality, including the use of decision support models
- the links between water quality and flow, and river health
- identifying which investment and management actions will give the best return in improving water quality, river health and aquatic biodiversity.
DECC can help CMAs focus investment to get the best outcomes for water quality and river health, as well as meeting other community goals.
For more information on CMAs see http://www.cma.nsw.gov.au
Page last updated: 11 September 2012
