A review of the magnitude and response times for sediment yield reductions following the rehabilitation of gullied landscapes

Abstract

AbstractGully erosion is a major driver of elevated sediment yields across many areas of the globe, and considerable rehabilitation has occurred to reduce the amount of sediment eroded from gullies. However, compared to other forms of erosion, there has been little systematic review of the effectiveness of gully rehabilitation on reducing sediment yields.This study reviewed the global literature to provide an understanding of the potential sediment yield reductions that can occur following the rehabilitation of gullied landscapes. We focused on studies reporting a measured response on how gully and catchment sediment yield has changed since treatment. A total of 37 studies were found that met this criterion. The studies were partitioned into three broad categories, including those focused on: (i) treating the catchment above the gully; (ii) installing treatments in the actual gully channel; and (iii) a combination of approaches which include treating both the catchment and the gully channel.All the studies demonstrated a reduction in sediment yield following gully rehabilitation, with reported values ranging between 12 and 94%. The timeframes associated with the reductions in sediment yield varied considerably (2–80 years). Applying a variety of rehabilitation measures, which generally includes treating both the hillslope above the gully, and trapping sediment within the gully, appears to result in shorter (median) timescales for sediment yield reduction. Overall, this review indicates that gully rehabilitation strategies combining both engineering and vegetation measures are often the most successful. Engineering measures such as check dams are important for stabilizing sites in the early phases to support the revegetation of gullies and adjacent hillslopes. However, vegetation is the key to the long‐term success of gully rehabilitation. This is because many engineering structures eventually fail, or they have a limited life span as an active sediment trap. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd