Surface Water - This dataset displays Victoria's surface-water Water Supply Protection Areas (WSPAs), and has been prepared for the Groundwater and Licensing Branch and the River Health Branch DSE, by LICS (Land Information Cartographic Services) and Melbourne Water. As part of the 2002 amendments to the Water Act 1989, surface-water was included to allow WSPAs to be declared for the protection of surface-water resources in a defined area. A legally enforceable Streamflow Management Plan is then developed. The aim of the plan is to manage the surface water resources of the WSPA equitably and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the resource. An extensive consultative process guarantees that surface water users have a major input into the development of the Streamflow Management Plan for their area. A Ministerial appointed Consultative Committee which represents all relevant interests prepares the Plan. In an area where farming predominates, farmers who own or occupy farming land in the area must comprise at least half of the membership of the committee. Groundwater - This dataset displays Victoria's groundwater Water Supply Protection Areas (WSPAs), and was originally prepared for Groundwater and Licensing Branch DSE, by LICS (Land Information Cartographic Services). Boundaries generaterd by LICS and Melbourne Water. Subsequent revisions have been undertaken by GLiB and the Rural Water Corporations. WSPAs are areas that have been (or are proposed to be) proclaimed under the Water Act 1989 for the purpose of establishing a management plan. The aim of the plan is to manage the groundwater resources of the WSPA equitably and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the resource. An extensive consultative process guarantees that groundwater users have a major input into the development of the Groundwater Management Plan for their area. A Ministerial appointed Consultative Committee, which represents all relevant interests, prepares the Plan. In an area where farming predominates, farmers who own or occupy farming land in the area must comprise at least half of the membership of the committee.

As part of the cross border management between South Australia and Victoria, zones have been set up either side of the state borders. These borders zones are also referred to as the 20 kilometre zones and are divided horizontally. The zones extend 20 kilometres either side of the state border and extend from the southern coastline up to the River Murray. This layer contains only the South Australian zones. This layer will mainly be used for administration purposes for water licensing. While this dataset was created in June 1998, the age of the zones is unknown and probably date back to early period of development of the South Australian/Victorian border agreement on groundwater.

This layer provides the boundaries of the River Basins of Victoria, and is part of a system devised by the Australian Water Resources Council (AWRC). The basins within Victoria are contained within two drainage divisions; the Murray Darling Division and the South East Coast Division.