Koci, J., Tefera, A., Hall, T., Milson, J., Phelps, D., Jarihani, B., Nelson, P., Felderhof, C., Gardner, L., Wharton, P., and Martinez, M. (2025) Impact of drought and flood on land condition across Mitchell Grass Downs rangelands. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Rangeland Congress. pp. 1358-1362. From: XII International Rangeland Congress, 2-6 June 2025, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

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Abstract

The late January/early February 2019 north-west Queensland flood and associated wind chill event had a devastating impact on the grazing industry and local communities, causing high stock mortality, infrastructure damage, and business disruption. Rangeland condition was also severely impacted by the flood. In some areas, severe erosion stripped away soil, including nutrients and seed bank, while in other areas, soil deposition smothered pasture. Prolonged floodwater inundation (up to two weeks) in low-lying areas also contributed to pasture death. The impacts of the flood were exacerbated by a prolonged drought which impacted the region in the six years prior to the flood, and in the three years following the flood. This project sought to assess land condition recovery on Mitchell Grass Downs rangelands five years on from the flood. In late February and early March 2019 (soon after the floodwaters receded), on-ground land condition assessments were completed at 130 sites across the region. In September 2024, land condition assessments were repeated at 62 of the original sites. In 2024, land condition: improved at least one condition score at 30 sites (48%); remained the same at 29 sites (47%); and declined at least one condition score at 3 sites (5%). Results indicate that land that is maintained in good condition is more resilient to the impacts of extreme weather events (both drought and flood) and recovers more quickly after the event. The observed improvement in land condition at many sites was supported by strategic grazing land management and above average rainfall in recent years. In this region, droughts and floods are likely to increase in frequency and severity. It is critical that we improve understanding of the linkages among drought, floods, grazing land management and land condition to assist producers to build greater resilience in their production systems.

Item ID:	87632
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISBN:	978-0-646-72121-7
Copyright Information:	© 2025 PROCEEDINGS OF THE XII INTERNATIONAL RANGELAND CONGRESS.
Funders:	Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2025 00:05
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410404 Environmental management @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180601 Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems @ 100%
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