The River Murray is Australia's longest river, running a course of 2,500 km from near Mount Kosciuszko in the Australian Alps to the Southern Ocean at Goolwa, in South Australia. The Murray–Darling Basin is one interconnected system of rivers made up of 22 different catchments.

The River Murray holds significant importance for South Australia, playing a crucial role in various aspects of the state's environment, economy and lifestyle. It is, therefore, vital for South Australia to ensure that a healthy river system is maintained. The implementation of the Basin Plan and recovery of 450 GL to South Australia is critical in achieving this.

The South Australian Government is working to implement a range of activities and projects that, collectively, will help restore the environmental health of the river and support local communities and industries, including agriculture, fishing and tourism.

Some key aspects of the importance of the River Murray in South Australia are as follows:

• Biodiversity: The River Murray and its associated wetlands provide crucial habitats for diverse plant and animal species. The region supports unique ecosystems, including an estimated 50 native fish species and 2,000 native plant species that are found along the river system in South Australia. There are also 3 Ramsar-listed wetlands that are internationally important because of the plants and animals they support and the endangered or threatened species that rely on them, those wetlands being: the Coorong, Lake Alexandrina and Albert Wetland, the Riverland Ramsar site incorporating the Chowilla floodplain and Lindsay–Wallpolla Islands, and the Banrock Station wetland complex.
• Water supply: The River Murray is a major source of water for South Australia, supporting agriculture, industry and urban areas. It is a vital resource for irrigation, providing water to a significant portion of the state's irrigated agricultural lands. Water allocation is undertaken in accordance with the River Murray Allocation Plan. The South Australian annual entitlement of water from the River Murray is 1,850 GL.
• Agriculture: The river's water is extensively used for irrigating crops such as grapes, citrus fruits, almonds and other horticultural products. This contributes significantly to South Australia's agricultural output, supporting both domestic and international markets.
• Economic contribution: The agricultural activities facilitated by the River Murray contribute substantially to the state's economy. The river also supports fishing, tourism and recreational activities, all of which contribute to employment and economic growth. We saw the impacts of the 2022–23 floods on these industries when access restrictions to the River Murray were introduced, including cessation of river crossings via the numerous ferries that operate along the river.
• Recreation and tourism: The River Murray is a popular destination for recreational activities such as boating (including houseboats), fishing, camping and birdwatching. The scenic beauty of the river and its surroundings attracts tourists, which contributes to the tourism industry in South Australia.
• Cultural and historical significance: The River Murray has cultural importance for Aboriginal peoples as the Traditional Owners of the River Murray, and its history is intertwined with the development of South Australia. The rivers, lakes, wetlands and surrounding areas have a very strong cultural and spiritual significance for Aboriginal peoples, including those represented by the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Mannum Aboriginal Community Association Incorporated, Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and First Nations of the South East.
• Townships: The River Murray supports townships and shack settlements along its reach, which provide a home for around 73,000 people and 6,600 businesses. Many towns and settlements have grown along the river, and it continues to be an essential part of the cultural fabric of the region.
• Water management and sustainability: Effective water management of the River Murray is critical for ensuring sustainability. Water management is particularly complex due to competing demands, different water management arrangements between the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) states and territory, and the need to ensure a balance of water supply for the environment, human water needs (as per the Basin Plan), cultural and spiritual values, and extractive use for horticulture, pastures and other industries.
• Management of water resources: South Australian River Murray water resources are managed under the Landscapes South Australia Act 2019. Overall management of the River Murray is undertaken by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) on behalf of the South Australian, New South Wales and Victorian governments as the river runs through each of these states. Within South Australia, both SA Water and the Department for Environment and Water deliver South Australia's obligations under the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement.
• Climate resilience: The River Murray is a vital resource for South Australia in mitigating the impacts of drought and providing a reliable water source, thereby contributing to the state's climate resilience.

Respondents to the 2023 SOER YourSAy page indicated that they valued the River Murray for the peace and tranquillity it provides, the native plants and animals in the region and the services it provides to townships and industries, including fruit and vegetable production. However, concerns were expressed about the various threats facing the river including:

• water allocations and river flows
• invasive species impacting biodiversity
• impacts on the river and surrounding land from irresponsible use of jet skis, speedboats and 4WDs
• firewood collection
• inappropriate farming practices that impact soils and biodiversity
• climate change increasing temperatures in the region and impacting farming areas and biodiversity
• impacts that resulted from the 2022–23 flood event.

450 Reasons Why We Love the River Murray