The Environmental Watering Plan (EWP), set out in Chapter 8 of the Basin Plan 2012, provides a strategic framework to coordinate the planning, prioritisation, and use of environmental water across the Basin. It sets out objectives and targets for water-dependent ecosystems, supports adaptive management, and facilitates cooperation among the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), Basin States, and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH).
This 2025 review of the EWP, undertaken in advance of the 2026 Basin Plan Review, evaluates the effectiveness of components of Chapter 8 of the Basin Plan 2012 and its alignment with contemporary environmental and cultural needs. This review fulfils the five-year legislative review requirement of the EWP.