Soil Water Infiltration Rate

AUS-ASC-CON-SWI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

5 mm/hr

Thresholds: Lower: 5, 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.

Evidence & Context

Based on general soil physics principles (e.g., infiltration rates significantly lower than moderate rainfall intensities) and the contrast with the measured Ksat values of healthy AHS, it is expertly judged that SWIR values falling consistently below 5-10 mm/hr in AHS or peat soils would likely signify severe degradation and compromised hydrological function.

Metric Definition:

Soil Water Infiltration Rate (SWIR) threshold below which significant ecological dysfunction occurs, including increased runoff, erosion, and impaired soil water availability.

Benchmark Definition:

A lower critical threshold for Soil Water Infiltration Rate below which significant ecological dysfunction occurs in alpine and subalpine conservation areas.

Justification:

Values below this threshold indicate severe degradation, increased runoff, erosion, and compromised ecosystem services.

Sources (1)

Preview of SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM (Data derived from research linked to Save our Snow Gum (SOSG) project and Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF))

SNOWY MOUNTAIN FORESTED HILLSLOPE SOIL CHARACTERISATION, SOIL HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM (Data derived from research linked to Save our Snow Gum (SOSG) project and Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF)) Journal

Dynamics of Sudanian Savanna-Woodland Ecosystem in Response to Disturbances - - Administrative page for SLU library, accessed May 12, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

(PDF) Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia, accessed on May 31, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Nitrogen dynamics in alpine soils of south-eastern Australia, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source

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

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments

View Source

Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A review - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Contextual Support

Distribution, nature and threats to soils of the Australian Alps: A ...

View Source

Ecosystem Services - Sci-Hub, accessed on May 28, 2025

Contextual Support

Ecosystem Services - Sci-Hub, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source

Preview of Impacts of experimental trampling on tall alpine herbfields and subalpine grasslands in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025

Impacts of experimental trampling on tall alpine herbfields and subalpine grasslands in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of experimental trampling on tall alpine herbfields and subalpine grasslands in the Australian Alps | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source

Inland water - Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 20, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Inland water - Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source

Preview of OVERVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE SURFACE-WATER-INFILTRATION COMPONENT OF THE RAINFALL-RUNOFF PROCESS By R, accessed on May 28, 2025

OVERVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE SURFACE-WATER-INFILTRATION COMPONENT OF THE RAINFALL-RUNOFF PROCESS By R, accessed on May 28, 2025

Methodology Source Journal

OVERVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE SURFACE-WATER-INFILTRATION COMPONENT OF THE RAINFALL-RUNOFF PROCESS By R, accessed on May 28, 2025

View Source

Preview of Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment, south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025

Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment, south-eastern Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed on May 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 – Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed May 26, 2025

View Source

research-repository.griffith.edu.au, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of Camping and Trampling on Australian Alpine and Subalpine Vegetation and Soils - Griffith Research Online

View Source

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review

View Source

theaustralianalpsnationalparks.org, accessed on May 28, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018 – Criterion 4 - DAFF, accessed March 28, 2026,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Alpine and Subalpine Complex
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 17 Mar 2026

Notes

This threshold is inferred from soil physics principles and observed impacts of soil compaction and degradation in alpine soils.