The majority of native fish populations in the Murray-Darling Basin are in a poor condition. Planning processes currently being developed as part of Basin Plan implementation provide the opportunity to improve flow regimes and contribute to the restoration of native fish populations. To effectively manage water for native fish, we need to understand the flow drivers that support healthy fish populations. The Fish and Flows projects completed by NSW DPI-Fisheries used the latest management and scientific information to develop an understanding of the relationships between hydrology, life history requirements and population dynamics for native fish. As part of this process, native fish were classified into flow related functional groups based on the biological, hydrological and hydraulic requirements needed for spawning, recruitment, movement and maintenance outcomes. Using this information, a management framework was developed, defining the ecologically significant components of the flow regime and the life history outcomes they supported for different fish groups. The use of this framework at regional scales, in combination with site specific information, will guide water management decisions that support the recovery of native fish in a healthy working Basin.