Gully Density

AUS-AIF-IND-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Thresholds: Lower: 0, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: LowerThreshold

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 2 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary LowerThreshold Guard

Evidence & Context

Lower Boundary (Degradation Threshold): The critical threshold is any value > 0 m/ha of active gullies.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density is the length of active gully channels per unit of land area.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark defines the critical threshold for gully density in the Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems biome under Industrial & Infrastructure Use. Any measurable presence of active gullies (greater than 0 m/ha) indicates the landform has crossed a stability threshold and is actively degrading.

Justification:

Any measurable density of active gullies (i.e., a value > 0 m/ha) signifies that the erosive forces of runoff have exceeded the landform's engineered resistance. This marks the transition from a stable, self-sustaining system to one that is actively degrading.

Sources (1)

Preview of MINE REHABILITATION: Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, accessed August 1, 2025,
MINE REHABILITATION: Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, accessed August 1, 2025, Journal

MINE REHABILITATION: Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia - CORE, accessed July 16, 2025,
Alluvial Gully Erosion: A Dominant Erosion Process Across Tropical Northern Australia - CORE, accessed July 16, 2025,
Contextual Support

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ..., accessed July 20, 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 Journal

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

View Source
Preview of Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025
Australia's Sustainable Forest Management - DAFF, accessed July 31, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Sustainable Development of Arid Rangelands and Managing Rainwater in Gullies, Central Asia - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (BPESC) document, accessed July 20, 2025
Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (BPESC) document, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (BPESC) document, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,
Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Queensland Soil and Land Resource Survey Information Guideline, accessed July 20, 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 Degradation of the Mitchell River fluvial megafan by alluvial gully erosion increased by post-European land use change, Queensla, accessed May 11, 2025,
Degradation of the Mitchell River fluvial megafan by alluvial gully erosion increased by post-European land use change, Queensla, accessed May 11, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

REHABILITATION CLOSURE CRITERIA ASSESSMENT USING HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAMMETRICALLY DERIVED SURFACE MODELS, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion | ECOllaboration, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Erosion & Sediment - Control Guide - Clearwater, accessed July 13, 2025,
Erosion & Sediment - Control Guide - Clearwater, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Stabilization of Gullies, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Erosion and sediment control | Sunshine Coast Council, accessed July 20, 2025
Erosion and sediment control | Sunshine Coast Council, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Erosion and sediment control | Sunshine Coast Council, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Factors Influencing Ephemeral Gullies at the Regional Scale: Formation and Density - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025
Factors Influencing Ephemeral Gullies at the Regional Scale: Formation and Density - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Factors Influencing Ephemeral Gullies at the Regional Scale: Formation and Density - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans - EPA WA, accessed August 10, 2025,
Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans - EPA WA, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

More And Better Mine Rehabilitation – Lessons from Queensland World Mining Congress 2023, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans - EPA WA, accessed July 20, 2025
Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans - EPA WA, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans - EPA WA, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed July 20, 2025
Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support

Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion on rehabilitated bauxite mines. - the UWA Profiles and ..., accessed July 20, 2025
Gully erosion on rehabilitated bauxite mines. - the UWA Profiles and ..., accessed July 20, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Science Note L81 Gully Erosion - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed July 20, 2025
Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Mine rehabilitation - Leading practice sustainable development program for the mining industry - Northern Territory Government, accessed August 1, 2025,
Mine rehabilitation - Leading practice sustainable development program for the mining industry - Northern Territory Government, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A Brief History of Mine Rehabilitation Reforms in Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025

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 Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025
Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025,
Preventing and managing erosion | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Erosion & Sediment Control Guide for Building Sites - Clearwater, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Publications - International Erosion Control Association, accessed August 1, 2025,
Publications - International Erosion Control Association, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support

Soil management, erosion and sediment control information | NT.GOV.AU, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 20, 2025
Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 13, 2025,
Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

A framework for developing completion criteria for mine closure and rehabilitation - The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute, accessed July 20, 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 erratic greening of arid Australia, accessed July 20, 2025
The erratic greening of arid Australia, accessed July 20, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia, accessed July 20, 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,
Direct Evidence Journal

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

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
  • Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse as they indicate active degradation. The initiation of a gully creates a positive feedback loop, increasing erosive power and leading to further gully expansion and landscape damage.