Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-ASC-FOR-SWI General High confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard

Evidence & Context

Based on the reviewed scientific literature, there is no evidence to support the existence of an upper detrimental threshold for soil water infiltration rate in healthy, well-structured alpine and subalpine forest soils under sustainable production forestry, where an inherently "too high" infiltration rate itself causes ecological harm.

Metric Definition:

Soil water infiltration rate (SWIR) is a critical indicator of soil health, directly reflecting the soil's capacity to absorb and transmit water from the surface into the soil profile.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark framework states that no upper detrimental threshold exists for soil water infiltration rate in healthy alpine and subalpine production forests, indicating that higher infiltration rates are generally beneficial.

Justification:

High infiltration capacity is broadly considered desirable and no documented negative ecological consequences are attributable to excessively high infiltration rates in healthy alpine/subalpine production forests.

Sources (1)

Preview of SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM Journal

Rainfall infiltration and soil hydrological characteristics below ancient forest, planted forest and grassland in a temperate northern climate

View Source

Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 13 Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Temperate forests and soils [Chapter 6]

View Source

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

Direct Evidence Journal

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

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Extract soil water infiltration rates and Ksat values for Alpine Ash forests from Sheridan et al. research.

Contextual Support Journal

Infiltration rates in subalpine forested catchments

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Influence of Vegetation Cover and Soil Properties on Water Infiltration: A Study in High-Andean Ecosystems of Peru - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

FACT SHEET - UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

View Source

logging and water - The Australia Institute, accessed July 31, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

National Guidelines for Water Quality - Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, accessed July 31, 2025,

View Source

Managing soil disturbance - EPA Victoria

Contextual Support Journal

Managing soil disturbance - EPA Victoria

View Source

Preview of Quantification of diffuse pathways for overland flow between the roads and streams of the Mountain Ash forests of central Victoria Australia - ResearchGate

Quantification of diffuse pathways for overland flow between the roads and streams of the Mountain Ash forests of central Victoria Australia - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Quantification of diffuse pathways for overland flow between the roads and streams of the Mountain Ash forests of central Victoria Australia - ResearchGate

View Source

Rehabilitation Field Guide | Australian Alps National Parks, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A strategy for dealing with invasive species in Australia

View Source

Saturated hydraulic conductivity in wet Eucalyptus forest

Direct Evidence

Saturated hydraulic conductivity in wet Eucalyptus forest

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Soil Infiltration - Technical Information Sheet - Port Stephens Council

Regulatory Framework Journal

Geotechnical testing requirements for infiltration systems

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The Australian Alps rehabilitation manual

Direct Evidence Journal

Invasive Species Research - Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology

View Source

Variation in hillslope-scale erosion processes following a severe fire in Victoria

Direct Evidence Journal

Variation in hillslope-scale erosion processes following a severe fire in Victoria

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 2
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

The principle of "more is generally better" applies to soil water infiltration rates up to the natural infiltration capacity of the undisturbed soil profile. No upper detrimental threshold is supported by the literature. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-ASC-FOR-SWI family.