This report draws on over ten years of ecological monitoring undertaken, as part of the Living Murray initiative, at six priority environmental assets, on the River Murray in the southern Murray–Darling Basin.

This year’s outlook describes seasonal and ecosystem conditions and provides an early indication of the likely watering priorities from 2018-19. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority is anticipating conditions in 2018-19 to range from very dry to wet in different catchments but with a common drying trend.

It’s been five years since the Basin Plan was established – it’s time to check how implementation is going. The 2017 evaluation considers environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes seen so far, and whether these outcomes are in line with what was expected five years ago.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and an Independent Panel have conducted a Basin-wide Compliance Review at the request of the Australian Government, to assess the legislative, policy and practical implementation of compliance in water management across the Basin.

This year’s outlook describes seasonal and ecosystem conditions and provides an early indication of the likely watering priorities from 2017-18. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority is anticipating wet conditions in early 2017-18, noting that this may change as the year progresses and is trending towards moderate to dry in parts of the northern Basin.