The most cost-effective areas to target for improving land condition and reducing erosion are those that are currently in C condition ( McIvor , 2012 ). Rehabilitation of areas in D condition on low productivity land types is an expensive approach to sediment reduction and may not be economic for the landholder to undertake without subsidies e . g . to build fences . For D condition land to recover , some form of mechanical intervention , like ripping , is often needed ( Karfs et al . 2009 ; Quirk and McIvor , 2003 ; Hall , 2014 ).
Priority management practices have been established for the region through the Paddock to Reef Program and are summarised below and illustrated in http :// www . reefplan . qld . gov . au / measuring-success / paddock-to-reef / assets / paddock-to-reef-grazing-water-quality-riskframework . pdf . Each of these practices is classified and weighted in terms of water quality risk for annual reporting .
Gullies ( contributes 71 % of anthropogenic TSS load from grazing lands ): Important determinants of management for gully erosion rates include reducing runoff from areas upslope of the gully , increasing cover on gully walls and reducing the sediment transport capacity by reducing the slope gradient or increasing roughness ( Thorburn and Wilkinson , 2013 ). Key practices : 1 . Linear features ( roads , tracks , fences , firebreaks ), and water points located and constructed to minimise their risk of initiating erosion . 2 . Strategies implemented , where practical and affordable , to remediate gullied areas . 3 . Plus Hillslope items 4-7 .
Hillslope ( contributes 22 % of anthropogenic TSS load from grazing lands ): The core grazing practice affecting hillslope erosion is stocking rate , which together with recent climate and land condition affects utilisation rate , and consequently cover . Key practices : 1 . Retention of adequate pasture and groundcover at the end of the dry season , informed by ( 1 ) knowledge of groundcover needs and ( 2 ) by deliberate assessment of pasture availability in relation to stocking rates in each paddock during the latter half of the growing season or early dry season .
2 . Strategies implemented to recover any land in poor or very poor condition ( C or D condition ).
3 . Average stocking rates imposed on paddocks are consistent with district long-term carrying capacity benchmarks for comparable land types , current land condition , and level of property development . 4 . The condition of selectively-grazed land types is effectively managed .
Streambank ( contributes 7 % of anthropogenic TSS load from grazing lands ): Stock access to streambanks and riparian tree cover are the main factors that can be managed to reduce streambank erosion in grazing lands ( Thorburn and Wilkinson , 2013 ). Key practices : 1 . Timing and intensity of grazing is managed in frontages of rivers and major streams
( including associated riparian areas ) and wetland areas .
The framework for grazing management practices has been developed as part of Paddock to Reef Program , and was originally described using the ‘ ABCD ’ terminology and has more recently been described in terms of water quality risk . However , the ABCD terminology is still maintained in the Burdekin Region to maintain consistency in discussions with landholders . The framework provides a consistent description of the levels of management practice moving from D or dated practices at the lowest level ( moderate to high risk ), to C practices at a level that may meet code of practice or legal requirements ( low to moderate risk ), to B practice that is known and generally validated best practice ( low risk ) up to A practice which is above best practice in terms of water quality outcomes ( very low risk ). The framework has been adapted to be regionally specific and account for variation in specific practices that may be more relevant in a particular location or set of conditions .
- 46 -