This layer contains the linework of the water resource areas (surface water, groundwater and watercourse) which have been prescribed through legislation. This layer is maintained as the master linework of the prescribed areas within the state. Please refer to the metadata document for more information.

In response to water usage issues, certain areas within the state may be prescribed in order to control future water extraction processes. The prescription may be either area based or watercourse based (or in some area both e.g. Barossa). This layer contains the linework of the water resource areas (surface water, groundwater and watercourse) which have been prescribed through legislation. This layer is maintained as the master linework of the prescribed areas within the state.

In response to water management and usage issues, certain areas within the state have been prescribed in order to equitably share and manage the water resources and control future water extraction processes. The prescription may be placed on surface water areas (e.g. farm dams), groundwater (areas of bores and wells) or watercourses (streams and rivers) or a combination of types. This layer contains the linework delineating the watercourses which have been prescribed through legislation (Water Resources Act 1997). It is maintained as the master linework of the prescribed watercourses within the state. This layer will mainly be used for administration purposes for water licensing. This dataset only provides details of prescribed watercourses (streams and rivers) while the associated datasets, Prescribed Surface Water Areas and Prescribed Wells Areas, contains the linework for the prescribed surface water areas and ground water areas within the state. The Water Resources Act 1997 defines the principles for prescribing a watercourse and the resource management policies. Each prescribed watercourse requires a Water Allocation Plan to be prepared by the appropriate Catchment Water Management Board.

The catchment layer contains boundaries of watersheds where surfacewater drains to a common point into the sea or a major waterbody. Attributes include drainage division, basin (name and number), catchment name and drainage type. Related layers include sub-catchments, reservoir catchments and gauging station catchments.

The sub-catchment layer contains boundaries of discrete areas within catchments that each defines the watershed of a major tributary or tributaries. Attributes include the names of basin, catchment and sub-catchment, and sub-catchment area. Related layers include catchments, reservoir catchments and gauging station catchments.