Gully Density

AUS-TDG-AGR-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0.1 m/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Given the overwhelming emphasis in authoritative sources on the prevention of gully formation and the control of active erosion as integral to sustainable land management and high environmental health, the most scientifically defensible benchmark for active gully density in well-managed sustainable or regenerative cropping systems within the specified biome is approaching zero. For practical measurement and reporting, this can be represented as < 0.1 m/ha of active gullies.

Metric Definition:

Length of active gullies per hectare

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum acceptable length of active gullies per hectare in Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands under sustainable or regenerative agricultural crop production, reflecting a state of high environmental health and effective erosion control.

Justification:

This benchmark is founded on the principle that best-practice land management aims to prevent active soil erosion, and that active gullies indicate ongoing degradation incompatible with high environmental health.

Sources (3)

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 Journal

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria
Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria Government

Gully erosion | Erosion | Soil | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria

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Preview of No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill, accessed August 4, 2025,
No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill, accessed August 4, 2025, GreyLiterature

No-Till Farming Victoria | Controlled Traffic | Zero Tillage - VicNoTill

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Supporting Sources (15)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 10 Proven Runoff Management Tips to Boost Soil Health - - Farmonaut, accessed May 11, 2025
10 Proven Runoff Management Tips to Boost Soil Health - - Farmonaut, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Distribution of Gully Erosion in Victoria | VRO

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

View Source
Preview of A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed May 11, 2025
A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support

A Revegetation Guide for Eucalypt Woodlands - Greening Australia

View Source
Preview of 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 August 5, 2025,
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 August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

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

Gully Erosion | ECOllaboration

View Source
Preview of Effect of Gully Erosion on the Environment - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Effect of Gully Erosion on the Environment - ResearchGate, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gully erosion assessment and control guide - Local Land Services

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 18, 2025
Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion - Enviro Data SA

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Land | State of the Environment Report 2011, accessed August 10, 2025,
Land | State of the Environment Report 2011, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Reef Trust Phase IVGully and Stream Bank Toolbox ... - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of LAND DEGRADATION AND THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY - Productivity Commission, accessed July 13, 2025,
LAND DEGRADATION AND THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY - Productivity Commission, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support

LAND DEGRADATION AND THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY - Productivity Commission

View Source
Preview of Landscapes of the Lake Eyre Basin: the catchment-scale context that creates fluvial diversity, accessed July 22, 2025
Landscapes of the Lake Eyre Basin: the catchment-scale context that creates fluvial diversity, accessed July 22, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: MurrayDarling Basin, Australia

View Source
Preview of Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion | Soil | Farm ..., accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Monitoring groundcover and soil degradation | Erosion - Agriculture Victoria

View Source
Preview of Quantifying the effectiveness of gully remediation on water quality: results from Landholders Driving Change monitoring and demonstration sites. Milestone Report June 2022 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025
Quantifying the effectiveness of gully remediation on water quality: results from Landholders Driving Change monitoring and demonstration sites. Milestone Report June 2022 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed May 11, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Quantifying the effectiveness of gully remediation on water quality: results from Landholders Driving Change monitoring and demonstration sites. Milestone Report June 2022 - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

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

Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government ...

View Source
Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food, accessed on May 29, 2025,
Contextual Support

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Agriculture and Food

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 10 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0 m/ha. The benchmark of < 0.1 m/ha of active gullies represents a state of high environmental health and landscape stability under best-practice sustainable/regenerative cropping. There is no beneficial level of active gully erosion in this context.