Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) have statutory powers under the Water Act 1989 to manage waterways, floodplains and rural drainage.

The roles of CMAs in relation to floodplain management are to:

• Develop, oversee and, where appropriate, implement regional floodplain management strategies, which integrate local floodplain management issues and prioritise the development of urban and rural floodplain management plans within the region.
• Support and facilitate the implementation of regional land use planning measures to reduce the growth of flood risk and flood damages and, in particular, to provide input to planning schemes, respond to planning referrals, provide flood advice and help resolve planning issues.
• Support and facilitate the implementation of regional flood warning systems.
• Maintain and enhance regional flood information and coordinate monitoring of significant flood events.
• Monitor and report on regional flood management performance.
• Advise Government on regional flood management priorities.
• The CMAs also have major functions with regard to waterway management and regional rural drainage management.