Gully Density

AUS-AIF-LVG-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha

Range: 0 to 0 m/ha

Thresholds: Lower: 0, Upper: —

Optimal Range: 0 to 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 9 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 8 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

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

Evidence & Context

The benchmark of 0 m/ha represents a functionally stable landscape where active, connected gully systems are absent.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density as linear metres of active, connected gullies per hectare of landscape.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the linear density of active, connected gullies per hectare, indicating landscape stability or degradation in arid inland floodplains under livestock grazing. A value of zero indicates a stable landscape with no active gully erosion.

Justification:

This benchmark is derived from first principles, recognizing gully erosion as a degradation process that best-practice management aims to prevent. It is supported by comparative studies showing significantly lower gully activity in non-grazed catchments and by large-scale government mapping indicating very low to low gullying as the most common landscape condition.

Sources (2)

Preview of Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ...

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ...

Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin ..., accessed July 18, 2025,

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

Supporting Sources (17)

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) Influence of cattle grazing practices on forest understory structure in north–eastern New South Wales - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025,

Preview of (PDF) Landscape function analysis to assess soil processes on farms following ecological restoration and changes in grazing management - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

(PDF) Landscape function analysis to assess soil processes on farms following ecological restoration and changes in grazing management - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessing gully erosion and rehabilitation using multi temporal LiDAR DEMs: Case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Assessing landscape function in the field: an aid to the design and selection of appropriate restoration techniques, accessed July 18, 2025,

Assessing landscape function in the field: an aid to the design and selection of appropriate restoration techniques, accessed July 18, 2025,

Methodology Source Journal

Assessing landscape function in the field: an aid to the design and selection of appropriate restoration techniques, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025

Can simple, on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 30, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

on-ground vegetation and soil measures reliably indicate the health of rangelands? An application in Australia's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing

Preview of Chapter 10 Land management on flood plains - Queensland Government publications

Chapter 10 Land management on flood plains - Queensland Government publications

Contextual Support Journal

Chapter 10 Land management on flood plains - Queensland Government publications, accessed July 17, 2025,

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

Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion and environmental change: importance and research needs, accessed July 20, 2025

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

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.

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 July 18, 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 July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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 July 18, 2025,

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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

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 - ResearchGate, accessed July 17, 2025,

Preview of Effect of reduced grazing pressure on sediment and nutrient yields in savanna rangeland streams draining to the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Effect of reduced grazing pressure on sediment and nutrient yields in savanna rangeland streams draining to the Great Barrier Reef - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Contextual Support Journal

Hillslope gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great ..., accessed July 19, 2025,

Preview of Grazing impacts on the susceptibility of rangelands to wind erosion - Jornada Experimental Range, accessed July 18, 2025,

Grazing impacts on the susceptibility of rangelands to wind erosion - Jornada Experimental Range, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effects of grazing on gully erosion rates in red goldfields soil on ..., accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using remote sensing to detect change - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using remote sensing to detect change - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Guppy, C.N., Waters, C.M., Hacker, R.B., et al. (2024). Managing grazing to increase ground cover in rangelands: using dynamic regional comparison to document property-scale change. Rangeland Journal.

Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed July 18, 2025,

Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of Progressive rehabilitation and closure plan schedule for P-PRCP-100812653 - NET, accessed July 18, 2025,

Progressive rehabilitation and closure plan schedule for P-PRCP-100812653 - NET, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Ian Partridge - FutureBeef, accessed July 24, 2025

Preview of Sedimentation from landscape clearance-induced soil erosion threatens waterhole persistence in a semi-arid river system, southern Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025,

Sedimentation from landscape clearance-induced soil erosion threatens waterhole persistence in a semi-arid river system, southern Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing outback floodplains - Local Land Services, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of TERN data assist government and industry-led sustainable grazing practices in Great Barrier Reef catchments - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed on June 5, 2025

TERN data assist government and industry-led sustainable grazing practices in Great Barrier Reef catchments - Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, accessed on June 5, 2025

Contextual Support Government

TERN data assist government and industry-led sustainable grazing practices in Great Barrier Reef catchments, accessed July 18, 2025,

Preview of www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

www.barrierreef.org, accessed on May 25, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Potassium for high-performing pastures | Nutrient Advantage, accessed July 28, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Inland Floodplains & Ephemeral River Systems
Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 18 Mar 2026

Notes

The optimal state and lower boundary converge at zero active gullies, representing the highest environmental health. Any measurable active gully presence indicates degradation. The upper detrimental threshold is conceptualized as a geomorphic state change rather than a numeric value, with more active gullies unequivocally worse. Distinction between active and inactive gullies is critical.