Waterways are complex ecosystems with intricate relationships between the flora, fauna and non-living components such as water quality, flow regime and habitat.
The balance between these living and non-living components can be changed by human activities in waterways and their catchments which can lead to the deterioration of waterway health.
When they become degraded the economic, social and environmental values of our waterways decline. For example, the water may have an unpleasant odour, it may not be safe to swim in and the fish may not be safe to eat when algal blooms are present.
Waterways management is a shared responsibility. It requires cooperative relationships between landowners, land managers, natural resource and catchment groups, state government agencies, and local governments. Read about our role in assessing waterway health and managing our waterways.
Find out more about some of the threats to the health of waterways below.
Acid sulfate soils
Altered river flow regimes
Barriers to aquatic connectivity
Climate change and waterways
Erosion and sedimentation
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