Gully Density

AUS-TSW-CON-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

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 6 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard UpperThreshold 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:

Density of active gullies, defined as incising channels currently eroding, characterized by bare soil, unstable head-cut, and actively slumping walls.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal condition of zero active gully erosion density in Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands under conservation management, indicating the highest environmental health and landscape stability.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from large-scale observations and modeling showing that active gully erosion is a degradation process and its absence signifies the highest environmental health.

Sources (2)

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, Journal

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

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

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (24)

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

Sediment production and yield from an alluvial gully in northern Queensland, Australia, accessed May 14, 2025,

View Source
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 ..., accessed July 12, 2025

View Source
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,

View Source
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

Advancing gully topographic threshold analysis using an automated algorithm and high-resolution topography - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

View Source
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 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.

View Source
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

Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests

View Source
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,

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 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

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,

View Source
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

Sustainable Agriculture | NQ Dry Tropics, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
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,

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

Geomorphic Threshold for Gully Initiation in Different Geographical Environments of Wanjoga River Catchment, Tana Basin, Kenya - Scientific Research Publishing, accessed August 28, 2025,

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

Gully Morphological Characteristics and Topographic Threshold Determined by UAV in a Small Watershed on the Loess Plateau - MDPI

View Source
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,

View Source
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

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

View Source
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,

View Source
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,

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 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 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

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

View Source
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

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

View Source
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

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

View Source
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

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

View Source

Context

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

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

Any measurable density of active gullies (>0 m/ha) indicates the detrimental threshold of gully initiation has been breached. There is no lower critical threshold or optimal range; zero is the optimal state.