WATERpak is the Australian Cotton Industry’s Compendium of water and irrigation research. Its production was funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and it was first released in August 2004. Since 2004 there has been a significant change in the irrigation management within the industry and new irrigation and water management research findings. Additionally, the myBMP process has been launched with the on-line myBMP process the mechanism by which industry participants can access the latest research findings and recommendations to ensure continued implementation of best management practices with respect to water management within the industry.

In April 2008, grains related information was incorporated as part of the Irrigation Knowledge Management Project. In 2009, a meeting was held to determine a strategy for updating WATERpak, details of which have been included in the final report of the recently completed CRDC project “Water Smart Cotton and Grains”.

It is now opportune to look at updating WATERpak with the latest research information and including new information that has been identified in irrigation and water research since the first edition was published. This is particularly relevant given the improved water supply situation within the industry, the impending changes in water availability that may result from the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan and the myBMP process now being promoted within the industry. An update process has been flagged by the Industry D&D team as a desirable step in improving the integration of water research and the myBMP program.