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Assessing Australia's Water Resources

Bradfield Scheme Assessment

In 1938 engineer Dr John Bradfield proposed an inter-catchment water diversion scheme to expand agriculture in central western Queensland by moving water inland from the north coast. The Bradfield Scheme and modern variants were analysed in a detailed desktop study which found that, while technically feasible, they are not economically viable.

Water Supply For Remote Australian Communities

It has been estimated that more than 400 remote or regional communities in Australia lack access to good quality drinking water. We are helping to tackle the complex challenge of delivering clean and reliable water to remote areas in Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.

Southern Gulf Water Resource Assessment

The Australian Government and CSIRO are partnering to investigate opportunities for water and agricultural development in the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria catchments in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Victoria River Water Resource Assessment

We partnered with the Australian Government to investigate opportunities for water and agriculture development in the Victoria River catchment, in the Northern Territory.

Roper River Water Resource Assessment

We've partnered with the Australian Government to investigate opportunities for water and agriculture development in the Roper River catchment, in the Northern Territory.

Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment

We have investigated the potential of northern Australia's water resources to support increased regional development.

Norfolk Island

CSIRO is providing scientific advice to Norfolk Island community and the Australian Government to help them make decisions on how to improve water management on Norfolk Island.

Pilbara water assessment

A comprehensive scientific assessment of long-term water availability in the Pilbara region, to guide responsible resource management into the future. It provides an overview of the effect of future climates and proposed developments on the region’s surface water and groundwater resources.

Flinders and Gilbert

We have completed, for the Australian Government, an investigation of opportunities for water and agricultural development in the Flinders and Gilbert catchments of north Queensland.

Great Artesian Basin

A comprehensive scientific assessment of water resources of the Great Artesian Basin and potential impacts of climate change and resource development.

WIRADA

Our alliance with the Bureau of Meteorology develops tools to accurately monitor, assess and forecast the availability, condition and use of Australia's water resources.

Remote sensing

We are using satellite remote sensing to understand the turbidity in Kimberley coastal waters using to help plan for future impacts on biological productivity.

Murray-Darling Basin

Murray-Darling Basin water security

Our research is playing a crucial role in supporting decision making in Australia’s largest river basin.

The Murray–Darling Water and Environment Research Program

We are working with partners to deliver research that will benefit the Murray-Darling Basin and its communities for years to come.

Flow Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program (Flow-MER)

The Flow-MER consortium is improving our understanding and evaluating the benefits of environmental water in the Murray–Darling Basin.

Protecting Ramsar wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin

We are helping to safeguard these internationally recognised wetlands for the future.

Ecosystem functions in the Murray-Darling Basin

Our knowledge about the Murray-Darling Basin ecosystem improves water management and promotes better environmental outcomes.

Waterbird breeding

Wetlands within the Murray-Darling Basin provide critical waterbird habitats, however the quality and availability of these sites are influenced by our water and vegetation management decisions.

Ecological trajectories

In the Murray-Darling Basin, consumptive water use coupled with high natural variability in river flows has resulted in declines in environmental condition in many ecological systems.

Spatial tool MDB

Water is highly contested in the Murray-Darling Basin with use of water by irrigators and the environment in conflict.

Murray-Darling Basin sustainable yields overview

In 2007 and 2008, the Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields team led by Tom Hatton and Bill Young undertook an assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on the surface water and groundwater resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Murray-Darling Basin sustainable yields papers

We have completed a series of reports which assessed current and future water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Science Solutions for the Murray-Darling Basin

Managing today’s resources for the future

How CSIRO is helping to protect a national icon

The Murray-Darling Basin is a national icon under stress in a changing climate. Ensuring this Australian food bowl remains healthy and productive is vital for the communities, environment and industries relying on it. Read about our capability and range of research in the Basin.

Full report text available in publications

International water work

Groundwater use in Bangladesh

Researchers from Bangladesh and Australia are working together with policy makers to understand the sustainable level of water use, particularly groundwater use, for irrigation in the northwest region of Bangladesh.

Gender equality

CSIRO research and project delivery in developing nations is aiming to help address gender inequality through the key areas of agriculture, water management, natural resource management, climate change, health, nutrition and education.

Basin planning in Nepal

Nepal’s plentiful water resources require careful management to ensure equitable use across the many competing demands of water users.

Sustainable water use in Pakistan

Building on a long history of working together, Australia and Pakistan are collaborating to implement Australian water resource management technologies and build local capacity in integrated water resources management and impact assessment.

Afghanistan research

Water resources in Afghanistan are under pressure from population growth, economic development and climate change. Water planners and managers need information on biophysical, socioeconomic and environmental drivers of change. A national water information system is critical to monitor, assess, plan, develop and manage water resources.

Basin Futures

In order to make effective water planning and policy decisions, countries need to build a solid understanding of the current state of water resources and how these will change in the future. Basin Futures is a web-based modelling tool for preliminary water resource planning.

Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFWs)

We are developing an innovative approach for long-term management of water bodies using water purifying plants.

Groundwater resources

Our work

Australia's groundwater resources support communities, industries and the environment across the country.

Basin-scale groundwater

We are characterising potential groundwater resources and facilitating sound water resources management practices at a regional scale.

Groundwater development for regions

We bring together the best scientists to investigate, map and quantify groundwater opportunities across Australia

Adaptive management

We are developing methods and applying tools for optimal and cost-effective monitoring of groundwater and the resources that depend on it. This encourages sustainable use, helps identify and manage adverse impacts, and ensures that adverse impacts are not irreversible.

Empowering social engagement

The Groundwater Commons Game represents a big step forward in merging socioeconomic variables with physical models for improved groundwater management.

Groundwater and environment

Environmental protection is critical for sustainable groundwater management.

Assessing MAR opportunities

We're providing the scientific expertise to assess opportunities for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) at a regional catchment scale, including northern Australia.

Assessing MAR risks

CSIRO scientists are undertaking risk-based assessments of the feasibility of Managed Aquifer Recharge

Water in the resources sector

We work towards sustainable groundwater resources management by extractive energy and mineral resources sectors. Our research leads to manageable environmental impacts and greater socio-economic benefits.

Adaptive water management

A water dashboard developed as part of the Sense-T program in Tasmania delivers real-time data to Tasmanian farmers to support irrigation and environmental sustainability.

Characterising aquifers and their hydrogeological properties

We are developing novel and cost-effective methods for hydrogeological characterisation, showing the geometry and 3-D internal architecture of aquifers and aquitards and their properties.

Data fusion

Using model-data fusion techniques delivers more credible predictions around potential groundwater impacts. This strengthens Australia’s capacity to make decisions in relation to investment, resource development and management across the mining, energy, and agricultural sectors.

Island aquifers

We work with island communities to help improve the understanding and management of their water resources.

Environmental tracers

Like footprints in the sand reveal the passage of animals, environmental tracers characterise the speed at which water moves underground.

Noble Gas and ATTA Facilities

We use advanced technologies to measure and trace the histories of water systems. We partner across scientific disciplines and institutions.

Clean groundwater

Our physically-based risk assessment models inform government and industry about potential chemical risks to groundwater from industry, agriculture and urban developments.

Isotope analysis

At the Environmental Tracer and Noble Gas Laboratory (former IAS, Isotope Analysis Service) we provide an extensive range of tracer analyses to study the terrestrial water cycle: aquifer and aquitard systems, groundwater - surface water interaction, infiltration conditions and flow velocities.

Geological and Bioregional Assessment Program

We provide independent scientific advice on the potential impacts from shale and tight gas development on water and the environment.

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Our flood work in the Northern Rivers

Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative

The National Emergency Management Agency has engaged CSIRO to undertake a project to understand flood risk factors in the Northern Rivers region of NSW and identify flood mitigation options.

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Explore our water research