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

Australia had near-median rainfall in recent years; areas of WA and NT had above-average rainfall; areas of Qld, Vic, Tas, NSW, SA and WA had rainfall deficiencies
Average temperatures included the warmest, third warmest and fifth warmest years on record. Climate projections for Australia include increasing temperatures and numbers of hot days
Water storage started at a high level and decreased during the past 4 years.
Widespread and unprecedented drought across southern Australia over the past decade or more has greatly affected inland water ecosystem condition. Flooding since 2009 has broken the drought in the south-east of the continent, but the drought continued (as of early 2011) in the south-west There is substantial scientific evidence of a component of change towards a drier climate across southern Australia and a warmer climate nationally. Drier landscapes have the potential for increased rates of sedimentation due to decreased vegetative cover, exacerbated by the potential for more frequent and intense storms
Urban water use has increased; demand was met through addition of climate-resilient water sources and management of existing supplies, rather than dam building.
Agricultural water use, which can vary significantly each year because of water availability and management controls, has remained relatively steady. Small developments of dams and irrigation areas continue to increase pressure on resource development and effective management.
Historical allocations of surface water and groundwater have changed the ecological character of many river and wetland systems across southern Australia; development pressures are generally much less in the northern half of the continent Recovery of water for increased environmental flows in the Murray–Darling and Snowy basins has reduced this pressure on some inland water ecosystems Most new water for Australian metropolitan areas will come from resources other than development of new inland resources—sources will include reuse and seawater desalination, improving run-off and recharge into existing infrastructures, and trading with existing users
Land clearing continues at minor levels, except in Queensland. Adoption of best-management practice is improving run-off and nutrient load pressures
Moderate areas of bushfire activity occurred in temperate environments. Northern Australian tropical savannah and rangelands had generally typical levels of burning, with a peak in 2011
Impacts from farming are ongoing, with small decreases in farmed area each year
For most of Australia, historical land clearing for dryland agriculture and locally intensive agricultural land uses continue to place river systems under pressure from nutrient run-off, sedimentation and salinisation The growth of the peri-urban fringe around major metropolitan areas places great pressure on local waterways and can involve the irreversible drainage of local wetlands Riparian degradation by livestock and feral pests is an ongoing impact
Increasing areas of inland water systems are affected by vertebrate pests
Additional Weeds of National Significance are affecting mainland waterways
Vertebrate pests continue to impact most inland water systems across the continent, through grazing-related impacts, direct ecological competition or as a hazard to native predators (as in the case of cane toads) Waterway and floodplain weed infestations are widespread but of variable local impact
There are few or negligible impacts, and predictions indicate that future impacts on the environmental values of regions are likely to be negligible
There are minor impacts, in some areas, and predictions indicate that future impacts on the environmental values of regions are likely to occur, although they will be localised
The current and predicted environmental impacts are significantly affecting the values of regions, and predictions indicate serious environment degradation within 50 years
The current and predicted environmental impacts are widespread, irreversibly affecting the values of regions, and predictions indicate widespread and serious environment degradation across the region within 10 years
Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear
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
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
Comments
Nil