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Erosion along upland streams in arid rangelands of western New South Wales has been monitored over a fifteen-year period as part of ongoing research into rates of soil loss. Evidence suggests that erosion was accelerated by land cover disturbance when sheep grazing began in the region in the late 1800s, and it continues at very high rates in spite of the conservative stocking rates now observed. Land cover disturbance resulted in changes to the hydrologic regime of the upland catchments, manifested as channel enlargement and knickpoint retreat, which are still working their way through the channel systems and are threatening roads, watering points and other infrastructure on grazing leases and in national parks. The implications for the management of affected lands are addressed.