Landscape leakiness describes the extent to which landscapes have lost their capacity to regulate rainwater and soil nutrients. We demonstrate a remote sensing-based index for monitoring changes in leakiness for sub-catchments of the Burdekin River near Charters Towers. This index is based on the amount and spatial arrangement of persistent cover (e.g. 3P grasses). Index values are validated with ground data for a smaller area within these sub-catchments. Leakiness increased to very high levels in the mid 1990s in sub-catchments dominated by Indian couch. Grazing strategies that encourage native perennial grasses to re-establish, and that maintain higher levels of persistent cover, should reduce leakiness in future drier years.
Anderson, L., van Klinken, R. D., and Shepherd, D. (2008). Aerially surveying Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in the Pilbara. In: 'A Climate of Change in the Rangelands. Proceedings of the 15th Australian Rangeland Society Biennial Conference'. (Ed. D. Orr) 4 pages. (Australian Rangeland Society: Australia).
Full-text publications from the Australian Rangelands Society (ARS) Biennial Conference Proceedings (1997-), Rangeland Journal (ARS/CSIRO; 1976-), plus videos and other resources about the rangelands of Australia.