Effectiveness of inland water management

Inland water (2016, 2011)

Effectiveness of inland water management

Ineffective,Partially effective,Effective,Very effective

Water resource development

Understanding of context: There is good understanding within management of surface water resources in the context of ecosystem functions and environmental values and understanding of groundwater in this context is increasing. Regular national water resource accounting and reporting are providing core contextual information.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Water resource development

20162011

Inland water

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments

Data/Information sources

All sources referenced in the supporting text sections on water management in Australia, national assessments of management performance and reviews of state and regional management
Sources referenced in sections 15 of this report
SoE 2011 inland water chapter
NWI assessment reports
Bureau of Meteorology National Water Accounts and Australian water resource assessments
Bioregional Assessment Program reports
Climate Change in Australia online information
State and territory State of the Environment reports
Water management plans and associated analysis under National Water Quality Management Strategy
Water agency/authority annual reports
Proceedings of the national series of Australian Stream Management Conferences
Reports from significant water-related initiatives, such as the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, and Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment monitoring reports
Data quality is generally medium

Comments

Topics

Water management in Australia

Understanding: There is reasonable accounting of water resources across jurisdictions, and this is improving through water information initiatives with the Bureau of Meteorology. There is an improving picture of where overallocation is occurring, but with limited quantification of environmental flow requirements

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Planning: The Murray–Darling Basin Plan is in place, as are many regional water management plans. Disaggregation of National Water Initiative (NWI) responsibilities and machinery-of-government changes have raised the potential for diminished commitment to the NWI reform agenda. New major policies include consideration of water and the aquatic environment

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Planning: Although progress towards the objectives of the NWI has been somewhat limited, there is strong evidence that the principles are increasingly reflected in water resource planning and decisions. Water resource planning is not yet meeting NWI targets, and consultations with key stakeholders are uneven. The commissioning of regional studies of sustainable yield in advance of potential developments in northern Australia and Tasmania is positive. In fast-expanding urban areas, consideration and integration of innovations in urban water management are still poor

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Inputs: Capacity in state and territory agencies for monitoring and implementation has diminished, and future financial support for Water Act 2007 (Cwlth) requirements are not confirmed. A Bioregional
Assessment Programme is in place to address impacts of coal-seam gas and large coalmines on water resources

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Inputs: Large financial resources have been made available for recovery of water for the environment, particularly in the Murray–Darling Basin. Resources available for community-based water management and monitoring have decreased

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Processes: Commonwealth, state/territory, regional and local water resource development has governance, stakeholder engagement and oversight processes.
Implementation of these varies in accordance with priorities and available inputs

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Processes: Ongoing commitment to restoring environmental flows in previously overallocated systems is substantial

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Outputs and outcomes: Moderate assessment of outputs is being undertaken, with some examples of positive environmental outcomes now becoming apparent

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Outputs and outcomes: Recent decisions on proposed developments of new water resources reflect increasingly effective consideration of NWI principles, but the full objective of the NWI will not be met on the agreed timetable. The final outcomes of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan will be a crucial and difficult test of these principles and commitment

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Land-use and water quality management

Understanding of context: Understanding of the ecosystem functions in this context is reasonable to good, although variable around spatial, temporal and cumulative impacts, particularly with regard to tropical and groundwater aquatic environments.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Comparable

Land-use and water quality management

20162011

Inland water

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments

Data/Information sources

All sources referenced in the supporting text sections on water management in Australia, national assessments of management performance, and reviews of state and regional management
Sources referenced in sections 15 of this report
SoE 2011 inland water chapter
NWI assessment reports
Bureau of Meteorology National Water Accounts and Australian water resource assessments
Bioregional Assessment Program reports
Climate Change in Australia online information
State and territory State of the Environment reports
Water management plans and associated analysis under the National Water Quality Management Strategy
Water agency/authority annual reports
Proceedings of the national series of Australian Stream Management Conferences
Reports from significant water-related initiatives, such as the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, and Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment monitoring reports
Data quality is generally medium

Comments

Assessments of grades and trends are mostly based on the weight of multiple information sources, rather than specific individual sources.

Topics

Water management in Australia

Understanding: There is a reasonable understanding of the types and sources of pollution and their environmental impacts. Most of these impacts are the legacy of historical land-use change and planning

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Planning: Water quality objectives across different scales and jurisdictions, and responsibility for achieving these, are moderately clear. Co-management to meet combined water quality and quantity objectives is limited

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Planning: There is relatively poor national coordination of programs to improve water quality, and poor integration with the management of environmental flows and abstraction

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Inputs: Resources for implementation of water quality management have been diminishing in some areas, as have monitoring and integrated water quality assessment information. Issue-focused and region-focussed programs provide specific information to support management decision making.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Inputs: The present level and approach to investment in improving catchment-scale water quality do not generally match requirements to meet water quality guidelines. Fewer resources are available to redress water quality issues than for the parallel issue of environmental flows

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Processes: There is significant variability in engagement, implementation and monitoring processes for management of land-use and water quality improvement, without effective high-level frameworks to provide
consistency and impetus

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Processes: National community-based programs to improve catchment health have diminished since the previous State of the Environment report, without any substantial and effective alternative in place at a national scale

Year(s):

2011

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Outputs and outcomes: Improvements in land-use practices directed towards water quality outcomes are occurring at a range of levels in different areas

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Water management in Australia

Outputs and outcomes: Australia has achieved good control over point-source pollution. There are few local examples of programs to control diffuse pollution delivering significantly improved water quality outcomes at the catchment scale

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Water management in Australia

Adaptation to climate variability and change

Understanding of context: New regionalised climate change projections, and associated information on impacts and adaptation provide nationally standardised and consistent information for managers and policy-makers. Implications are broadly and reasonably well understood.

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Adaptation to climate variability and change

20162011

Inland water

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments

Data/Information sources

All sources referenced in the supporting text sections on water management in Australia, national assessments of management performance, and reviews of state and regional management
Sources referenced in sections 15 of this report
SoE 2011 inland water chapter
NWI assessment reports
Bureau of Meteorology National Water Accounts and Australian water resource assessments
Bioregional Assessment Program reports
Climate Change in Australia online information
State and territory State of the Environment reports
Water management plans and associated analysis under the National Water Quality Management Strategy
Water agency/authority annual reports
Proceedings of the national series of Australian Stream Management Conferences
Reports from significant water-related initiatives, such as the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, and Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment monitoring reports
Data quality is generally medium

Comments

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Understanding: The potential implications are broadly and reasonably well understood; climate forecasts are becoming more confident in direction (e.g. warmer and drier in south) but still have significant uncertainties in the magnitude and timing of change

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Planning: Climate and water outlooks over a range of future timeframes are available and used in planning across some areas. Responsibilities for water resource management
responses to climate are generally clear

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Planning: Source and supply planning for metropolitan water utilities is now based on best available climate science and reflects movement towards sources that do not depend on climate. Water resource planning increasingly takes into account climate projections, but many water resource plans are structured in ways that maintain the security of water entitlements over environmental flows

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Inputs: There are more online resources and fewer human resources to interpret and integrate climate science into adaptation responses, especially with regard to groundwater and surface-water responses across different regions

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Inputs: Support for good science to underpin adaptation is being maintained or increased. The full cost and scale of adapting water policy and management to this challenge are, however, still uncertain

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Processes: Good governance and management systems exist for engagement, implementation and reporting on adaptation responses to climate variability and climate change

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Somewhat adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Processes: Jurisdictions are effectively incorporating climate forecasts into water supply planning

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Outputs and outcomes: Inland water management actions to account for climate change and climate variability have been taken and reported variously across
the country. There is limited to moderate evidence of positive ecosystem outcomes to date

Year(s):

2016

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Somewhat adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Outputs and outcomes: Water policy and management are largely staying abreast of the climate challenge as it unfolds, with most metropolitan water suppliers now anticipating a greater fraction of demand being met by sources that are not sensitive to climate and by demand management

Year(s):

2011

Improving

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Reviews of state and regional management

Management of Pests and invasive species

Understanding of context: There is good understanding nationally of the context of pests and invasive species in the aquatic environment, with good awareness of emerging threats.

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Management of Pests and invasive species

20162011

Inland water

Effectiveness of management

Approach/Process

Author assessment of available information to determine state grades and trends
Assessments for all components are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessments

Data/Information sources

All sources referenced in the supporting text sections on water management in Australia, national assessments of management performance, and reviews of state and regional management
Sources referenced in sections 15 of this report
SoE 2011 inland water chapter
NWI assessment reports
Bureau of Meteorology National Water Accounts and Australian water resource assessments
Bioregional Assessment Program reports
Climate Change in Australia online information
State and territory State of the Environment reports
Water management plans and associated analysis under the National Water Quality Management Strategy
Water agency/authority annual reports
Proceedings of the national series of Australian Stream Management Conferences
Reports from significant water-related initiatives, such as the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, and Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment monitoring reports
Data quality is generally medium

Comments

Assessments of grades and trends are mostly based on the weight of multiple information sources, rather than specific individual sources.

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Understanding: There is good national and regional awareness of threats from weeds and pests, including potential new invasive species

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Planning: Policy and planning for management of significant pests operate well nationally and are well coordinated

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Planning: Planning for managing and monitoring significant threats is good and nationally coordinated

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Inputs: Resources are not available to fully manage existing and emerging aquatic pests at a national scale. Resources are effectively engaged on priority pests and
regions

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Inputs: The potential costs of effective control on such a large scale are enormous. With present technology, resourcing will never be sufficient to eradicate threats

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Processes: Good and well-coordinated processes are available, including those for stakeholder engagement, governance and management coordination

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Processes: There is excellent national coordination and a strong commitment to effective biosecurity across jurisdictions

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Outputs and outcomes: Management actions have produced clear on-ground outputs, with priority pest and invasive species being addressed at local scales. There are some demonstrable ecosystem outcomes in some areas

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

Outputs and outcomes: There has been some local success in limiting or eliminating some invasive weeds

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Recent national assessments of management performance

NWI = National Water Initiative

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very effective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is good for most management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place for addressing all or most significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and operations targeted at major risks. Responsibility for managing issues is clearly and appropriately allocated
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are largely adequate to address management issues. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Well-designed management systems are being implemented for effective delivery of planned management actions, including clear governance arrangements, appropriate stakeholder engagement, active adaptive management and adequate reporting against goals
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are being demonstrably reduced
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	Resilience of environmental values is being maintained or improving. Values are considered secured against known threats

Effective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is generally good, but there is some variability across management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Effective legislation, policies and plans are in place, and management responsibilities are allocated appropriately, for addressing many significant issues. Policies and plans clearly establish management objectives and priorities for addressing major risks, but may not specify implementation procedures
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are mostly adequate to address management issues, but may not be secure. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform decisions, although there may be deficiencies in some areas
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Well-designed management systems are in place, but are not yet being fully implemented
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are mostly progressing in accordance with planned programs and are achieving their desired objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are in place to manage them
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	Resilience of environmental values is improving, but threats remain as significant factors affecting environmental systems

Partially effective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is only fair for most management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Legislation, policies and planning systems are deficient, and/or there is lack of clarity about who has management responsibility, for several significant issues
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in some important areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information is available to inform management decisions, although there are significant deficiencies in some areas
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Management systems provide some guidance, but are not consistently delivering on implementation of management actions, stakeholder engagement, adaptive management or reporting
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are progressing and showing signs of achieving some objectives. Targeted threats are understood, and measures are being developed to manage them
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	The expected impacts of management measures on improving resilience of environmental values are yet to be seen. Managed threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems

Ineffective

Elements of management effectiveness and assessment criteria		Description of grade
Managing context (understanding of environmental issues; adequacy of regulatory control mechanisms and policy coverage)	Understanding of context Decision-makers and environmental managers have a good understanding of: environmental and socio-economic significance of environmental values, including ecosystem functions and cultural importance current and emerging threats to values. Environmental considerations and information have a significant impact on national policy decisions across the broad range of government responsibilities.	Understanding of environmental and cultural systems, and factors affecting them is poor for most management issues
	Planning Policies and plans are in place that provide clarity on: objectives for management actions that address major pressures and risks to environmental values roles and responsibilities for managing environmental issues operational procedures, and a framework for integration and consistency of planning and management across sectors and jurisdictions.	Legislation, policies and planning systems have not been developed to address significant issues
Management capacity (adequacy of resources, appropriateness of governance arrangements and efficiency of management processes)	Inputs Resources are available to implement plans and policies, including: financial resources human resources information.	Financial and staffing resources are unable to address management issues in many areas. Biophysical and socio-economic information to support decisions is deficient in many areas
	Processes A governance system is in place that provides for: appropriate stakeholder engagement in decisions and implementation of management activities adaptive management for longer-term initiatives transparency and accountability.	Adequate management systems are not in place. Lack of consistency and integration of management activities across jurisdictions is a problem for many issues
Achievements (delivery of expected products, services and impacts)	Outputs Management objectives are being met for: timely delivery of products and services reduction of current pressures and emerging risks to environmental values.	Management responses are either not progressing in accordance with planned programs (significant delays or incomplete actions) or the actions undertaken are not achieving their objectives. Threats are not actively being addressed
	Outcomes Management objectives are being met for improvements to resilience of environmental values.	Resilience of environmental values is still low or continuing to decline. Unmitigated threats remain as significant factors influencing environmental systems

Recent Trends

Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear

Confidence

Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
Not previously assessed

Argent RM (2016). Inland water: Effectiveness of inland water management. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary/inland-water/effectiveness-inland-water-management, DOI 10.4226/94/58b656cfc28d1

The assessment summaries in State of the Environment reporting provide snapshots of key information, and focus on identifying areas for continued or more concentrated attention on strengthening environmental systems to cope with pressures in the future. Assessment summaries are provided for state and trend, pressures and management responses in each of the themes. The summary text in the assessment tables should be read in conjunction with the explanatory text in each section of the theme chapters.

The authors have indicated the strength of the evidence for assessments with a ‘level of confidence’. If adequate high-quality data were available or consensus was high, confidence is indicated as high. If there were only limited data or consensus to determine grades, confidence is indicated as low. Where data are insufficient to attempt scores, this is also indicated, and the component remains on the list to remind readers that it is still an important aspect of the Australian environment, and that more information is needed to improve our understanding and capacity to respond to environmental challenges.

Dr Robert M. Argent

Effectiveness of inland water management