The Murray-Darling Basin is up for a prestigious award, it has been nominated for the 2013 International Riverprize.

The Basin is a first time entrant in the world’s most prestigious award for bodies of water. It will be judged against creeks, streams, tributaries, brooks, estuaries and watercourses worldwide, facing tough competition from opponents in Russia, Kenya and the Philippines.

Chief of the International River Foundation Matt Reddy says the award seeks to acknowledge the best in sustainable river management, “So we're looking at how a river basin organisation manages those competing demands with the environment, social, historical needs and the very important economic needs... it's getting the balance right and having the framework for that particular river basin."

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority based their application for the Prize on a range of scientific data they collected along with input from NGO's.

Mr Reddy says just being a finalist is a victory; “Really the finalist position is not just a result for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, it's a result of every single person who has taken a carp out of that river, who has placed a native tree on that river, who has reduced the water demand on their farm... it's a recognition of all of those activities," he said.