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The Murray-Darling Basin is Australia's most iconic and largest river system. It is also one of the largest river systems in the world and one of the driest. It is divided into the northern Basin (Darling system) and the southern Basin (Murray system). The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) undertakes activities that support the sustainable and integrated management of the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin in a way that best meets the social, economic and environmental needs of the Basin and its communities. MDBA leads the planning and management of Basin water resources, and coordinate and maintain collaborative long-term strategic relations with other Australian Government, Basin state government and local agencies; industry groups; scientists and research organisations. The Water Act 2007 requires MDBA to undertake a number of functions: - advise the Commonwealth Minister for Water on the accreditation of state water resource plans - develop a water rights information service to facilitate water trading across the Basin - manage water sharing between the states - manage all aspects of Basin water resources, including water, organisms and other components and ecosystems that contribute to the physical state and environmental value of the Basin's water resources - measure and monitor water resources in the Basin - gather information and undertake research - engage and educate the community in the management of the Basin's resources.