In recognition of the ill effects of invasive alien species (IAS), the forest department of Tamil Nadu has embarked on an aggressive wattle (Acacia mearnsii) removal campaign in the Nilgiris. However, being mindful of the possible ill-effects of large scale removal of tree cover on hydrology and erosion, it was suggested that we measure the impact of wattle removal on erosion and both the volume and duration of discharge before and after the wattle clearing.