Gully Density

AUS-TDG-LVG-GUL General High confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is OptimalRange, 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.

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 0 m/ha for active gully density reflects the "best available condition"

Metric Definition:

Gully density, specifically the density of active gullies, serves as an inverse indicator of this health; a lower density of active gullies signifies a healthier, more stable system.

Benchmark Definition:

A benchmark of 0 m/ha for active gully density represents the best available condition where regenerative grazing prevents new gully initiation.

Justification:

Literature consistently frames active gully erosion as a degradation process to be controlled or eliminated, not a feature of healthy, well-managed grazing landscapes.

Sources (1)

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 Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - ResearchGate

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) Land-use change from indigenous management to cattle grazing initiates the gullying of alluvial soils in northern Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 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 GreyLiterature

section 2 water quality in the darwin region - Environment and Natural Resources

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

Estimates of late Holocene soil production and erosion in the Snowy Mountains, Australia - University of Wollongong Research Online, accessed May 7, 2026,

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

Investigating Intensive Grazing Systems in Northern 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,
Direct Evidence 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 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

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

Landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture improves soil health, accessed July 23, 2025

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

Water Sensitive Urban Design in North Queensland - Water by Design

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 - The Australian National University

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 Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed May 13, 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 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

(PDF) Regrowth and Soil Erosion in the Semi-Arid Woodlands of ..., accessed July 16, 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

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - The Australian National University

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

Lessons for Gully Management | NESP TWQ

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

Human movement and gully erosion: Investigating feedback mechanisms using Frequency Ratio and Least Cost Path analysis in Tigray, Ethiopia - PubMed Central

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

Managing Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics

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

The impact of cattle grazing and treading on soil properties and the transport of phosphorus, sediment and E. coli in surface runoff from grazed pasture - Taylor & Francis

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 Government

Tropical Rainforest (1993)

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

Report card on sustainable natural resource use in the rangelands

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

Rehabilitation effects on gully sediment yields and vegetation in a savanna rangeland - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

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

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Reef Trust Phase IV Gully and Stream Bank Erosion Control Program - Gully and Stream Bank Toolbox. 2nd Edition. June 2019.

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

Soil management guides - NSW Department of Primary Industries

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

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING

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

Gully Erosion: Options for prevention and rehabilitation - Land for Wildlife

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

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

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia - CSIRO Publishing

View Source
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

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

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 31 May 2026

Notes

The crucial modifier "active" is central to this benchmark. Historical, stabilized, and well-vegetated gully features might not indicate poor current management.

Related Benchmarks

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