Gully erosion is one of the major problem of soil degradation on the streamhead of Araguaia river basin, which is about 76,000 km2.
The gullies in the Araguaia region have been developing for almost 20 years ago. They are the result of land use actions (part of the savannah - cerrado - was replaced by grass and soya bean culture), which cause the complete alteration of the ecosystem.
The mapping around all the drainage basin area has shown that evolution process of that gullies is dynamic, intense and continuous. Some of them are 30-40 meters deep, and sometimes reach 1.5 kilometers length. Sediments yielded by gullies are delivered to the stream courses causing the silting up of the Araguaia river.
Regarding this situation, it has been developed the project "Recovery of the Araguaia river streamhead Programme", undertaken by Mato Grosso and Goiás State Governments. Based on the methodological approaches and experiences of IPT (Institute for Technological Research) and DAEE (Water and Energy Department), it was developed a gully erosion emergency control plan for the biggest and worse gullies in the basin.
Each one of the gullies were recognized and it was prepared a report related to the characteristics of the gully, the direct influences in the area and summarized all drainages which contribute into the gully. The work was based on investigation of the characteristics of dynamic processes, analysis and evaluations of the gullies and their main damages. It was collected some samples for soil analysis. It was also prepared sketches of the gullies and the drainage basin which have been used to make the control projects. In these sketches it was pointed out all the mesures of the gully (dimension, extention, etc.). The stream flow in several points along the gully was measured as well.
Finally, all information were used in order to indicate the methods be applied for the control of each one of the gullies.