The Cotton Rivers and Climate Change project assesses the impacts of climate change on water resources in the Gwydir, Border and Condamine-Balonne River Systems of north-east NSW and southern Queensland. The project has been undertaken by Hassall & Associates, CSIRO Atmospheric Research, NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) and Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (QNR&M). The project has been funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, with in-kind contributions from DLWC and QNR&M.

Three climate scenarios have been generated for the year 2030: “base”, “average” and “dry” scenarios. The scenarios represent plausible outcomes rather than predictions. The scenarios provide changes to rainfall and potential evaporation (predominately through temperature increases), at a regional scale. This modified climatic data is then used to assess the effects of projected climate change scenarios on streamflow and modified crop demand. The process used 1993/94 systems of allocating water between different users, including the allocations to the environment and diversions for irrigation.