National river digital networks and the River Environment Classification Future pathways for stewardship, maintenance, and upgrading of products and services for national benefit

DNs map surface water flow paths and are essential for tasks like flood modelling and water quality assessments. The REC classifies rivers based on environmental factors and supports national policy, such as freshwater management units under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. However, inconsistencies in data and varying user needs have led to challenges in maintaining and applying these tools effectively.

To improve this, the report proposes a national framework for managing and upgrading DNs and the REC. It recommends collaboration across agencies, better version control, and tools for user feedback. The goal is to ensure these systems are consistent, up-to-date, and fit for a wide range of uses from local planning to national reporting.