Gully Density

AUS-TGP-LVG-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 m/ha
Direction: Lower 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

An upper detrimental threshold is identified at > 5.0 m/ha (>0.5 km km⁻²). This value corresponds to the top 3% of most severely gullied land in the MDB model.1 This quantitative threshold aligns with qualitative government management frameworks, such as the NSW Local Land Services gully classification system, which identifies highly active and unstable gullies (Classes 1-4) as requiring urgent and significant intervention, often including costly earthworks.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density, the length of active gullies per unit area

Benchmark Definition:

This threshold marks the upper detrimental limit of gully density, beyond which landscapes are highly unstable and require urgent intervention.

Justification:

This threshold is derived from the model identifying the top 3% most-gullied areas and corresponds to landscapes with highly active, unstable gullies requiring major engineering intervention for stabilization.

Sources (2)

Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services
Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services GreyLiterature

Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services

View Source
Preview of Predicting gully density at the continental scale
Predicting gully density at the continental scale Journal

Predicting gully density at the continental scale

View Source

Supporting Sources (21)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Gully erosion in sub-tropical south-east Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025
(PDF) Gully erosion in sub-tropical south-east Queensland, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for ..., accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's Native Vegetation Framework - DAFF, accessed May 11, 2025

View Source
Preview of A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 6, 2025
A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Conservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025
Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion and environmental change: importance and research needs, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate, accessed July 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Comparison of grazed and cleared temperate grassy woodlands in eastern Australia: patterns in space and inferences in time - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Conservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion, accessed August 12, 2025,
Conservation Advice for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Cumberland Plain and its vegetation - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 6, 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 Erosion management and avoidance in northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed August 6, 2025
Erosion management and avoidance in northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Spatial Analysis of Livestock Grazing and Forest Service Management in the High Uintas Wilderness, Utah - Scirp.org., accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Estimating soil erodibility for the RUSLE with rainfall simulation in central Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 6, 2025
Estimating soil erodibility for the RUSLE with rainfall simulation in central Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Estimating soil erodibility for the RUSLE with rainfall simulation in central Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ANU Researcher Portal, accessed August 10, 2025,
Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ANU Researcher Portal, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion | Land and soil | Environment and Heritage, accessed July 13, 2025,
Gully erosion | Land and soil | Environment and Heritage, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change - DAFF, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed May 15, 2025,
Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) Grassy Woodlands ecological listing advice, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDE - Manningham Council, accessed August 6, 2025
LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDE - Manningham Council, accessed August 6, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDE - Manningham Council, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source
Preview of Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable land management practices for graziers - NSW ...

View Source
Preview of nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

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 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 August 12, 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 August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully Guide - Cape York Natural Resource Management, accessed May 11, 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 importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
The importance of travelling stock reserves for maintaining high-quality threatened temperate woodlands - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Australian Journal of Botany, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Approved Conservation Advice for the White Box - Yellow Box - Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland - DCCEEW, accessed August 6, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

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

Notes

An upper detrimental threshold is a critical concept in landscape management, signifying a transition to a functionally impaired state requiring major remedial intervention.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-LVG-GUL family.

1 m/ha Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v1