Aim of the site treatments :
• Remove water from the gully heads through diversion of flow ;
• investigate the impact of a planned rotational grazing approach on gully stabilisation , reprofiling of gullies and reestablishment of ground cover in gully channels ; and
• trial catchment ripping and re-seeding on slowing flow and reestablishing pasture . Livestock treatments being investigated
The Stomping out Sediment project was investigating whether applied livestock treatments offered erosion management opportunities equal to , or better than , stock exclusion , potentially providing another option for adoption by graziers .
The project premise was that planned livestock impact at ultra high density ( UHD ) on degraded landscapes , followed by long pasture recovery periods , results in :
• improved pasture composition , increased vegetation biomass , and improved soil health of treated areas , with resultant improvement in rainfall infiltration , less runoff and improved land condition ; and
• improved profile of gullies and reestablishment of suitable vegetation cover on the reprofiled gullies .
At this site , the effect of planned rotational grazing ( followed by long pasture recovery periods ) on gully profiles and pasture cover , was investigated .
Implementation activity summary :
• 1300m diversion bank and level sill outlet constructed , maintenance of level sill at bank outlet end ;
• approx . 18.5ha subcatchment ripped and reseeded ;
• grazier constructed stock water dam in the gully and levelling of some gully features by Tabletop manager ;
• 35ha project sub-catchment and gully area around diversion bank for monitoring ; and
• initially part of 1200ha paddock , later subdivided to 340ha paddock for stock management .
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