Gully Density

AUS-TDG-LVG-GUL General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark recommendation, derived from the detailed analysis within this report, is presented in the required format for the scientific catalog. Indicator Name Reference Value Unit Source Title Source URL or DOI Confidence Level Short Notes Gully Density A value approaching 0 for active gullies m/ha Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia High The benchmark represents a state of high landscape stability with negligible active erosion.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density is defined as the length of active gullies per hectare, representing active erosion features in the landscape.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents a state of high landscape stability with negligible active erosion, indicated by a gully density approaching zero active gullies per hectare in temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands under livestock grazing.

Justification:

The benchmark represents a state of high landscape stability with negligible active erosion. It is derived from long-term livestock exclusion sites, which serve as the best available real-world proxy for the highest achievable ecological condition in a managed landscape.

Sources (1)

Preview of Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia
Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia
View Source

Supporting Sources (35)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Land-use change from indigenous management to cattle grazing initiates the gullying of alluvial soils in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
(PDF) Land-use change from indigenous management to cattle grazing initiates the gullying of alluvial soils in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Influence of cattle grazing practices on forest understory structure in north–eastern New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
(PDF) Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fertilisers and the environment - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of 18. Case Study A: Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - Woolwise, accessed August 28, 2025,
18. Case Study A: Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - Woolwise, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

18. Case Study A: Northern Tablelands of New South Wales - Woolwise, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Assessing gully erosion and rehabilitation using multi temporal LiDAR DEMs: Case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 13, 2025
Assessing gully erosion and rehabilitation using multi temporal LiDAR DEMs: Case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Arid erosion mapping: comparing LiDAR and structure from motion - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Assessing the impact of overgrazing on soil erosion in arid regions at a range of spatial scales
Assessing the impact of overgrazing on soil erosion in arid regions at a range of spatial scales
Contextual Support

'Tolerable' hillslope soil erosion rates in Australia: Linking science and policy | Request PDF, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Best Management Practice for Grazing. NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Best Management Practice for Grazing. NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Contextual Support Journal

Understanding the relationship between livestock grazing and wetland condition - Arthur Rylah Institute, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
Do regenerative grazing management practices ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 12, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed May 11, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on ..., accessed May 13, 2025
Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on ..., accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Plant responses to livestock grazing frequency in an Australian temperate grassland, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Effects of soil degradation on infiltration rates in grazed semiarid rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina - project bedrock
Contextual Support Journal

Effects of Grazing on Water Erosion, Compaction and Infiltration on Grasslands - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Factors affecting forest health, accessed August 9, 2025
Factors affecting forest health, accessed August 9, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - Collins Library Primo Search, accessed August 28, 2025,
Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - Collins Library Primo Search, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - Collins Library Primo Search, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

The underestimated biodiversity of tropical grassy biomes - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Gully erosion prediction across a large region ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 13, 2025
Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria, accessed May 13, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Sustainable Agriculture | NQ Dry Tropics, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Gully formation and the role of valley-floor vegetation, southeastern Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Gully formation and the role of valley-floor vegetation, southeastern Australia, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Geomorphic Threshold for Gully Initiation in Different Geographical Environments of Wanjoga River Catchment, Tana Basin, Kenya - Scientific Research Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

INNOVATIONS FOR REGENERATIVE LANDSCAPE ... - Soils For Life

View Source
Preview of Gully Morphological Characteristics and Topographic Threshold Determined by UAV in a Small Watershed on the Loess Plateau - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,
Gully Morphological Characteristics and Topographic Threshold Determined by UAV in a Small Watershed on the Loess Plateau - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Gully Morphological Characteristics and Topographic Threshold Determined by UAV in a Small Watershed on the Loess Plateau - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Human movement and gully erosion: Investigating feedback mechanisms using Frequency Ratio and Least Cost Path analysis in Tigray, Ethiopia - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 13, 2025
Human movement and gully erosion: Investigating feedback mechanisms using Frequency Ratio and Least Cost Path analysis in Tigray, Ethiopia - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Irrelevant Journal

Gully erosion and environmental change: importance and research needs

View Source
Preview of Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Land management for graziers | Business Queensland, accessed August 8, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Government

Reducing the impacts of grazing on water quality - EPA Victoria, accessed July 19, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Maintaining groundcover to reduce erosion and sustain production - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Lang, D. (1979). Groundcover for pastures. Journal of Soil Conservation NSW.

View Source
Preview of MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 10, 2025
MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 10, 2025
Direct Evidence

(PDF) Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for ..., accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Modelling reductions of pollutant loads due to improved ..., accessed July 19, 2025
Modelling reductions of pollutant loads due to improved ..., accessed July 19, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

MANAGING NATIVE GRASSLAND - Hotspots Fire Project, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Pasture growth | MLA, accessed August 28, 2025,
Pasture growth | MLA, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Managing Riparian Areas - Private Forests Tasmania

View Source
Preview of Priorities for improving soil condition across Australia's agricultural landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 30, 2025,
Priorities for improving soil condition across Australia's agricultural landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 30, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Priorities for improving soil condition across Australia's agricultural landscapes - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

View Source
Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025
Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 31, 2025

View Source
Preview of Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,
Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Review of soil erosion modelling involving water with field applications - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Quantifying Short-Term Erosion and Deposition in an Active Gully Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: A Case Study From West Tennessee, USA - Frontiers, accessed May 13, 2025
Quantifying Short-Term Erosion and Deposition in an Active Gully Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: A Case Study From West Tennessee, USA - Frontiers, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Quantifying Short-Term Erosion and Deposition in an Active Gully Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: A Case Study From West Tennessee, USA - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Reef Trust Phase IV—Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox—A technical guide for the Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosio - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025
Reef Trust Phase IV—Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox—A technical guide for the Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosio - DCCEEW, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Direct Evidence Journal

Kuhnert PM, Rassam DW, O’Brien D, et al. Intensive gully remediation reduces event-based suspended sediment and nutrient export from a Great Barrier Reef catchment. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 2021;25(2):867-891.

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture – Case studies from Western Australia, accessed May 13, 2025
Regenerative agriculture – Case studies from Western Australia, accessed May 13, 2025
Direct Evidence

Regenerative agriculture – Case studies from Western Australia, accessed May 10, 2025

View Source
Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 13, 2025,
Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Assessing gully erosion and rehabilitation using multi temporal LiDAR DEMs: Case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of The conservation value of mesic gullies in dry forest landscapes: Avian assemblages in the box-ironbark ecosystem of southern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,
The conservation value of mesic gullies in dry forest landscapes: Avian assemblages in the box-ironbark ecosystem of southern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Are gullies best for biodiversity? An empirical examination of Australian wet forest types | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Thresholds, Triggers and Time Erosion Risk on Evolving Reclaimed Landforms after Bauxite Mining in the Darling Range, Western Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Thresholds, Triggers and Time Erosion Risk on Evolving Reclaimed Landforms after Bauxite Mining in the Darling Range, Western Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Thresholds, Triggers and Time Erosion Risk on Evolving Reclaimed Landforms after Bauxite Mining in the Darling Range, Western Australia, accessed July 20, 2025

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Preview of www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Factors affecting forest health, accessed August 28, 2025,

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Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au
www.publications.qld.gov.au
Contextual Support

www.publications.qld.gov.au

Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

For this indicator of degradation, the concepts of a "lower critical threshold" and "optimal range" are ecologically inapplicable; the critical threshold is the point of gully initiation (>0 m/ha), and the optimal state is the absence of active erosion. Any measurable density of active gullies indicates a detrimental state, with severity increasing proportionally to density. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse.