These proceedings represent the outcomes of one of Australia's most successful R&D programs in natural resources management - minimisation of the impact of pesticides on the riverine environment. Conducted over a period of four years, the program focussed on irrigated cotton in NSW and Queensland as a model for other industries that use pesticides. The reasons for choosing cotton were several: it is the highest agricultural user of pesticides, it has been subject to ongoing criticism by environmental groups, it is an expanding industry with a bright commercial future in Australia, and it was prepared to take on board the research required to address the perceived problems and moreover adopt the outcomes.