Gully Density

AUS-TSW-CON-GUL General Moderate 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.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 0 m/ha represents the density of active gully erosion in a landscape demonstrating the highest achievable environmental health and stability.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density refers to active, incising channels that are a symptom of instability and disequilibrium.

Benchmark Definition:

The density of active gully erosion in a landscape demonstrating the highest achievable environmental health and stability.

Justification:

Active gully erosion is a process of degradation, not a natural functional component of this biome. Large-scale modeling across the Murray-Darling Basin shows the lowest predicted density is 0, and mapping in the Burdekin catchment shows nearly 60% of the landscape has 'very few or no gullies apparent'.

Sources (1)

Preview of Predicting gully density at the continental scale

Predicting gully density at the continental scale Journal

Predicting gully density at the continental scale

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Monitoring Australian Rangeland Sites Using Landscape Function Indicators and Ground- and Remote-Based Techniques - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

(PDF) Monitoring Australian Rangeland Sites Using Landscape Function Indicators and Ground- and Remote-Based Techniques - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Monitoring Australian Rangeland Sites Using Landscape Function Indicators and Ground- and Remote-Based Techniques - ResearchGate, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of (PDF) Regrowth and Soil Erosion in the Semi-Arid Woodlands of ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

(PDF) Regrowth and Soil Erosion in the Semi-Arid Woodlands of ..., accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Regrowth and Soil Erosion in the Semi-Arid Woodlands of ...

Preview of A Chinese database on ecological thresholds and alternative stable states: implications for related research around the world, accessed July 16, 2025,

A Chinese database on ecological thresholds and alternative stable states: implications for related research around the world, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Chinese database on ecological thresholds and alternative stable states: implications for related research around the world, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of Advancing gully topographic threshold analysis using an automated algorithm and high-resolution topography - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 16, 2025,

Advancing gully topographic threshold analysis using an automated algorithm and high-resolution topography - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 16, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 13, 2025

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

Preview of Alluvial Gully Prevention and Rehabilitation Options for Reducing Sediment Loads in the Normanby Catchment and Northern Australia - Cape York Water Quality, accessed July 16, 2025,

Alluvial Gully Prevention and Rehabilitation Options for Reducing Sediment Loads in the Normanby Catchment and Northern Australia - Cape York Water Quality, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Shellberg JG. Alluvial Gully Erosion in Northern Australia: Biogeomorphic Form, Process, and Integrated Management. PhD Dissertation, James Cook University; 2016.

Preview of Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

Preview of Cost effectiveness of gully remediation in the Burdekin catchment: preliminary insights based on measured data from monitoring sites - NESP TWQ, accessed July 16, 2025,

Cost effectiveness of gully remediation in the Burdekin catchment: preliminary insights based on measured data from monitoring sites - NESP TWQ, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Cost effectiveness of gully remediation in the Burdekin catchment: preliminary insights based on measured data from monitoring sites - NESP TWQ, accessed July 16, 2025,

Preview of ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

ecollaboration.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion | ECOllaboration

Preview of Ecological thresholds as a basis for defining management triggers for National Park Service vital signs: case studies for dryland ecosystems - USGS Publications Warehouse, accessed July 16, 2025,

Ecological thresholds as a basis for defining management triggers for National Park Service vital signs: case studies for dryland ecosystems - USGS Publications Warehouse, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Cost effectiveness of gully remediation in the Burdekin catchment: preliminary insights based on measured data from monitoring sites - NESP TWQ, accessed July 16, 2025

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

Contextual Support Journal

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

Preview of Gully Erosion and Environmental Change: Importance and Research Needs | Request PDF, accessed July 16, 2025,

Gully Erosion and Environmental Change: Importance and Research Needs | Request PDF, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion and Environmental Change: Importance and Research Needs | Request PDF, accessed July 16, 2025,

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,

Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

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

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

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

Preview of Identification of gully erosion activity and its influencing factors: A case study of the Sunshui River Basin | PLOS One, accessed July 16, 2025,

Identification of gully erosion activity and its influencing factors: A case study of the Sunshui River Basin | PLOS One, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Classification of Erosion Gullies by Remote Sensing and Spatial Pattern Analysis in Black Soil Region of Eastern Kebai, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Identification of gully erosion activity and its influencing factors: A case study of the Sunshui River Basin, accessed July 16, 2025,

Identification of gully erosion activity and its influencing factors: A case study of the Sunshui River Basin, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

A Chinese database on ecological thresholds and alternative stable states: implications for related research around the world, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of Influence of Topographic Factors on the Characteristics of Gully Systems in Mountainous Areas of Ningnan Dry-Hot Valley, SW China - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,

Influence of Topographic Factors on the Characteristics of Gully Systems in Mountainous Areas of Ningnan Dry-Hot Valley, SW China - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Influence of Topographic Factors on the Characteristics of Gully Systems in Mountainous Areas of Ningnan Dry-Hot Valley, SW China - MDPI, accessed July 25, 2025

Preview of Managing gully erosion in the Murray region - YouTube, accessed July 16, 2025,

Managing gully erosion in the Murray region - YouTube, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Managing gully erosion in the Murray region - YouTube, accessed July 16, 2025

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 ...

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

Preview of Proposing a Novel Predictive Technique for Gully Erosion Susceptibility Mapping in Arid and Semi-arid Regions (Iran) - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,

Proposing a Novel Predictive Technique for Gully Erosion Susceptibility Mapping in Arid and Semi-arid Regions (Iran) - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of Spatial Pattern Analysis and Prediction of Gully Erosion Using Novel Hybrid Model of Entropy-Weight of Evidence - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,

Spatial Pattern Analysis and Prediction of Gully Erosion Using Novel Hybrid Model of Entropy-Weight of Evidence - MDPI, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gully Erosion and Environmental Change: Importance and Research Needs | Request PDF, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of The effectiveness of alluvial gully remediation in Great Barrier Reef catchments - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 16, 2025,

The effectiveness of alluvial gully remediation in Great Barrier Reef catchments - Research @ Flinders, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed July 16, 2025

Preview of The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 16, 2025,

The Rangeland Journal - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source Journal

Arid erosion mapping: comparing LiDAR and structure from motion - CSIRO Publishing

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

www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025

Direct Evidence Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 31 May 2026

Notes

For this indicator, lower values are unequivocally better. A value of 0 is the optimal state. Any measurable density of active gullies (>0 m/ha) indicates the detrimental threshold has been breached.