This dataset is the Western Australian component of a national Drainage Divisions and Basins dataset overseen by the Australian Water Resources Council. It is part of a hierarchical order of 4 datasets ranging from Subcatchments through Catchments and Basins to Divisions. The Subcatchments, Catchments and Basins are hierarchically ordered subsets of the Divisions dataset. Catchment boundaries have been defined for more than 3400 key sites on streams throughout Western Australia. The Subcatchments dataset contains polygons from which the Catchment boundaries are derived. This catchments dataset is derived from this on the basis of the CATCH_NAME field, determined by the Scientific Custodian. This dataset was formerly known as Hydrographic Catchments - Catchments (DOW-014)

This dataset is the Western Australian component of a national Drainage Divisions and Basins dataset overseen by the Australian Water Resources Council. It is part of a hierarchical order of 4 datasets ranging from Subcatchments through Catchments and Basins to Divisions. The Subcatchments, Catchments and Basins are hierarchically ordered subsets of the Divisions dataset. Catchment boundaries have been defined for more than 3400 key sites on streams throughout Western Australia. The Subcatchments dataset contains polygons derived from all the defined boundaries, while the Catchment, basin and division polygons are based on subsets of the same boundaries. This dataset was formerly known as Hydrographic Catchments - Subcatchments (DOW-015)

Surface Water Management Areas for Western Australia were derived in consultation with the regional offices, geometry is based on hydrographic subcatchments. Regional Department of Environment officers identified areas of similar management requirements to define boundaries. Management areas will be used for licencing and administrative purposes. Purpose: The Surface Water Management Area data was developed in order to give a clear understanding of surface water availability and to provide management tools to make good water allocation and natural resources management decisions. Dataset was formally known as Surface Water Management Areas (DOW-020)

Surface Water Management subareas for Western Australia were derived in consultation with the regional offices, and geometry is based on hydrographic catchments. Regional Department of Environment officers identified areas of similar management requirements to define boundaries or aggregations of hydrographic subcatchments. Regions with notable management concerns both currently and possibly in the future were identified to become management subareas. Management subareas will be used in the calculation of sustainable yields, flow rates and ultimately these calculations will be available for water allocation and natural resource management decisions. In addition, native vegetation clearing values have been calculated for each of the subareas located within the extent of the South-West region of Western Australia, for input into the allocation process. The Surface Water subarea data was developed in order to give a clear understanding of surface water availability and to provide management tools to make good water allocation and natural resources management decisions. Dataset was formerly known as Surface Water Management Subareas (DOW-021)

Surface Water subareas stored in WRIMS (Water Resource Information Management System). Surface Water Allocation Subareas for Western Australia were derived in consultation with the regional offices, and geometry is based on hydrographic catchments. Regional Department of Water and Environmental Regulation officers identified areas of similar management requirements to define boundaries or aggregations of hydrographic subcatchments. Regions with notable management concerns both currently and possibly in the future were identified to become management subareas. Allocation subareas will be used in the calculation of sustainable yields, flow rates and ultimately these calculations will be available for water allocation and natural resource management decisions. In addition, native vegetation clearing values have been calculated for each of the subareas located within the extent of the South-West region of Western Australia, for input into the allocation process. The Surface Water subarea data was developed in order to give a clear understanding of surface water availability and to provide management tools to make good water allocation and natural resources management decisions.

Surface Water areas stored in WRIMS (Water Resource Information Management System). For the purposes of Surface Water resource management, the state of Western Australia is divided into Surface Water areas. The extraction and licensing of surface water resources are managed within surface water areas in order to ensure environmental requirements are met and to prevent over extraction of the resource. Surface Water Management Areas for Western Australia were derived in consultation with the regional offices, geometry is based on hydrographic subcatchments. Regional Department of Water and Environmental Regulation officers identified areas of similar management requirements to define boundaries. Management areas will be used for licencing and administrative purposes.

The Surface Water Resources (SWR) dataset was created to assist licensing and management of surface water in Western Australia. A surface water resource represents the smallest area to which water is managed. Surface water resources are the boundaries to which allocation limits are set. The SWR dataset was derived from the Surfacewater Allocation Subareas (WRIMS) dataset and SDL catchments dataset, resource boundaries align with mapping shown in all draft and current Water Allocation Plans.

Groundwater areas stored in WRIMS (Water Resource Information Management System). For the purposes of groundwater resource management, the state of Western Australia is divided into groundwater management areas or groundwater areas. The extraction and licensing of groundwater resources are managed within groundwater areas in order to ensure environmental requirements are met and to prevent over extraction of the resource. Some Groundwater Areas stored in WRIMS do not accurately reflect the official gazetted Groundwater Area boundaries, however a program is currently underway to realign the boundaries. Please contact the data steward for more information.

For the purposes of groundwater resource management, the state of Western Australia is divided into groundwater areas proclaimed under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. These groundwater areas are further subdivided into groundwater subareas. The subareas are not proclaimed, but are administrative boundaries used to manage the abstraction and licensing of groundwater resources.

Groundwater areas proclaimed under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act, 1914. For the purposes of groundwater resource management, the state of Western Australia is divided into groundwater areas. The extraction and licensing of groundwater resources are managed within groundwater areas. This dataset was formerly known as RIWI Act, Groundwater Areas (DOW-012)