The citation format: ZHANG Chuhan, WANG Guangqian. A Primary Framework on Protection of Ecological Environment and Realization of High-quality Development for the Yellow River Basin [J]. Yellow River, 2024, 46(9): 1-7.
Author biographies: ZHANG Chuhan (1933–), male, from Meizhou, Guangdong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with a research focus on water security and hydraulic engineering;
WANG Guangqian (1962–), male, from Zhenping, Henan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with a research focus on hydraulics and river dynamics.
Abstract
The Yellow River is the mother river of the Chinese nation, and the Yellow River Basin serves as a crucial ecological barrier and economic belt. It is also an important base for grain and energy production. The basin plays an irreplaceable role in China’s political, economic, and cultural development. The Yellow River Basin’s ecological protection and high-quality development have now been elevated to a major national strategy. The Yellow River is also one of the most complex and difficult rivers in the world to manage. China has a long history of managing the Yellow River, and since the people began working on its control, significant achievements have been made in the governance and ecological protection of the Yellow River Basin, garnering worldwide attention. However, many major issues still urgently need to be addressed. The remarkable achievements of the people's efforts to manage the Yellow River have been reviewed, and the current situation and challenges of river management have been analyzed. In response to how to achieve long-term stability and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, several recommendations have been proposed, including constructing a water resource security system for the basin, restoring and protecting the ecological environment in key areas, and improving the flood control, ice prevention, and water-sediment regulation systems in the basin.
Keywords: Ecological protection; High-quality development; Yellow River Basin
0 Introduction
The Yellow River is the mother river of the Chinese nation, spanning three major climate zones in China: the temperate monsoon, continental arid, and alpine regions. It serves as an ecological corridor connecting the Tibetan Plateau, Loess Plateau, and North China Plain. Additionally, it is an important corridor for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Eurasian Land Bridge. The Yellow River Basin is an important economic belt in China, serving as a key national base for grain and energy production. It hosts several national-level economic zones and urban clusters, and it is the main area supporting the country’s strategy to promote a new pattern of development in the western region. In 2023, the GDP of the nine provinces (regions) along the Yellow River totaled 31.64 trillion yuan, accounting for 25.1% of the national GDP.
On September 18, 2019, General Secretary XI Jinping chaired a symposium in Zhengzhou on ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. He highlighted four major challenges and issues facing the basin: first, flood risk remains the greatest threat; second, the ecological environment of the basin is fragile; third, water resource security is under severe pressure; and fourth, the quality of development needs improvement. Addressing these issues and implementing the water management approach of “prioritizing water conservation, ensuring spatial balance, pursuing systematic governance, and leveraging both hands” is of great strategic significance. It will enable the Yellow River Basin to play its role in balancing the north and south, as well as coordinating the east, central, and western regions within China’s economic structure. In view of this, this paper reviews the remarkable achievements of people’s efforts in managing the Yellow River. Building on previous research and practical experience, and considering the current water and sediment conditions of the Yellow River, it analyzes existing challenges and proposes recommendations for achieving long-term stability and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.
1 The Remarkable Achievements of People's Efforts in Managing the Yellow River
1.1 Achievements in Yellow River Management Before the Early 21st Century
Managing the Yellow River has always been a significant matter for the Chinese nation in ensuring the well-being of the people and promoting the prosperity of the country. In the over 4,000-year history of managing the Yellow River, new ideas for river management have continuously emerged in response to changes in the natural environment and the dynamics of water and sediment in the Yellow River, addressing issues such as floods, turbulent flows, and sedimentation [1]. However, historical strategies for managing the Yellow River have primarily been qualitative descriptions, lacking in-depth quantitative research. Furthermore, management efforts have mainly focused on the lower reaches of the river, and the issue of sediment accumulation raising the riverbed within the levees has not been fundamentally resolved.
In May 1946, the Yellow River Water Conservancy Commission for the Hebei, Shandong, and Henan regions was officially established, marking the beginning of people’s efforts to manage the Yellow River. In the context of the Yellow River flood disaster from 1947 to 1949, and based on the characteristics of water and sediment in the lower reaches of the river, the strategy of “wide river with solid embankments” upstream of Taochengpu and “narrow river with solid embankments and controlled flow to combat sediment” downstream of Taochengpu was proposed. This strategy greatly promoted the construction of flood control projects, which initially changed the flood control situation in the lower reaches [2-3]. Recognizing the natural law of "scouring upstream and sedimentation downstream" in the Yellow River, the principle of "eliminating hazards and promoting benefits, storing water and trapping sediment" was first proposed in 1952. This involved planning the construction of a high dam and large reservoir at Sanmenxia, utilizing the concept of “storing water and trapping sediment” to intercept the river’s sediment within the reservoir area [2-3]. The Sanmenxia Water Control Project began storing water in 1960, but severe sedimentation soon followed, raising the elevation of Tongguan and increasing the flood risk to the Guanzhong Plain. In response, a series of modifications were made to the Sanmenxia Project, along with changes in its operational strategy. The “upper storage, lower discharge, and lateral flood diversion” approach was proposed [3-4]. This involved constructing 10 reservoirs on major tributaries like the Jing and Wei Rivers [5], and creating the Beijindi flood diversion area to temporarily store floodwaters during extreme floods [6].
The core issue of the Yellow River lies not only in the threat of flooding but also in the imbalance between water and sediment. By summarizing practical experience and conducting in-depth scientific research on sediment, the “water and sediment regulation” strategy for managing the Yellow River was proposed. This strategy involves using the storage capacity of reservoirs to regulate natural runoff, creating artificial flood peaks to effectively control and manage water and sediment. After summarizing 40 years of experience in managing the Yellow River, the “retain, use, regulate, and discharge” strategy was formulated in 1986 [4]. After the completion of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, the Ministry of Water Resources defined the strategy for managing the Yellow River’s sediment in 2002 as “retain, discharge, regulate, release, and dredge” [7-8]. At this point, Yellow River management transitioned from a focus on flood control in the lower reaches to comprehensive management of the entire river.
1.2 Achievements in Ecological Civilization Construction of the Yellow River in the New Era
In the new era, ecological civilization construction has become the core of Yellow River management. The nation places great emphasis on building ecological civilization in the Yellow River Basin, resulting in a historic shift from reactive to proactive management, with significant achievements.
The construction of ecological projects in the basin has played a significant role, leading to a sharp reduction in the amount of sediment entering the Yellow River. From 1919 to 1959, the measured long-term average sediment load at the Shanxian Station was 1.592 billion tons. Until the late 1980s, the long-term average sediment load remained above 1 billion tons. With the extensive implementation of soil and water conservation projects such as reforestation and grass planting, silt dam construction, and terracing, as well as the construction of reservoirs, the annual average sediment load at Tongguan Station from 2000 to 2019 decreased to 245 million tons, a reduction of 84.6% [9]. In recent years, the full utilization of key control projects for sediment retention and water-sediment regulation has resulted in an average riverbed scouring depth of 3.1 meters in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. This has ensured safe flood management during high-water years and long-term stability year after year, creating favorable conditions for further managing the Yellow River and balancing ecological protection with development.
The trend of ecological deterioration has been significantly curbed and is gradually improving. The Yellow River Basin is home to several key ecological function zones, including the Three-River Source and Qilian Mountains. Since the start of the 21st century, ecological restoration efforts in the basin have steadily progressed. Through persistent reforestation and grass planting, by 2020, the Yellow River Basin had constructed 60,800 km2 of terraced fields, established 126,300 km2 of soil and water conservation forests, and planted 23,400 km2 of grass. The total vegetation area reached 549,500 km2, and the vegetation structure improved. Compared to the results of the first national remote sensing survey of soil erosion conducted by the State Council in 1990, the area of soil erosion decreased by 202,300 km2, a reduction of 43.51%, indicating gradual ecological recovery in the basin [10].
The issue of pollution in the Yellow River has greatly improved. Ecological destruction and environmental pollution in the Yellow River are key areas of focus for the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection. Through measures such as strengthening water resource management and regulation, and increasing wastewater treatment efforts, significant progress has been made in monitoring and improving the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin. According to statistics, the proportion of polluted water bodies in the Yellow River Basin decreased to 27.0% in 2019, a reduction of 43.7% compared to 1998. In 2018, the length of polluted rivers was 6,037 km, a 39% reduction compared to 2011 (9,907 km), effectively curbing the trend of continuous water quality deterioration.
2 Current Situation and Challenges in Managing the Yellow River
The fundamental issue of the Yellow River’s complexity and difficulty in management lies in the imbalance of “too little water and too much sediment,” which remains a challenge in current river management efforts. The upstream area is the main source of runoff; the midstream is the primary source of sediment, with the Tongguan Station in the midstream controlling about 90% of the runoff and almost 100% of the sediment; the downstream region has formed the famous “suspended river” due to sediment deposition. Over the past 70 years, ecological protection and comprehensive management of the Yellow River have achieved remarkable accomplishments. However, the Yellow River Basin still faces several significant issues that urgently need to be addressed.
2.1 Issues of Water Resource Supply and Demand Conflict
The overall shortage of water resources is the greatest constraint on the sustainable economic and social development of the Yellow River Basin. Currently, the overall situation of water resource shortage in the basin remains unchanged, and the conflict between water supply and demand remains prominent. The long-term average natural runoff of rivers in the Yellow River Basin accounts for only 2% of the national total, yet it supports 7% of the national economic output, provides 15% of the irrigation water needed for arable land, and sustains 9% of the population, while also taking on the responsibility of supplying water to some areas outside the basin [1]. The Yellow River is the river with the highest sediment concentration in the world, and the limited water resources must also bear the burden of transporting sediment, further constraining the water supply for economic and social development. Currently, approximately 666,700 hectares of farmland that could be effectively irrigated in the Yellow River Basin cannot receive irrigation due to water shortages, and the irrigation guarantee rate and irrigation quotas in some irrigation areas are significantly low. The water shortage issue remains severe in key national grain-producing areas such as the Hetao Irrigation District, Fenwei Irrigation District, and the Yellow River downstream irrigation area. In provinces such as Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi, many key national energy industrial projects are difficult to implement due to water shortages, impacting national energy security. The water resources of the Yellow River are characterized by significant interannual variability and extended periods of low flow. Additionally, the regional distribution of water usage in the basin does not align with runoff sources, and the timing of water consumption does not match the timing of water inflow. This has resulted in prominent conflicts between water used for economic and social purposes and water required for the ecological environment of the river, severely impacting the water supply for production and daily life, as well as the sustainability of water ecosystems and socioeconomic development in the Yellow River Basin.
Over the past century, the runoff conditions of the Yellow River have undergone significant changes due to the combined effects of human activities and climate change. The average natural runoff at the Huayuankou Station from 1960 to 1989 was 60.3 billion cubic meters per year, while from 1990 to 2019, it dropped to only 46.9 billion cubic meters per year, representing a reduction of 23% in natural runoff. Notably, the 1990s recorded the lowest average natural runoff, at just 45.1 billion cubic meters per year [1]. Since 2000, the natural runoff of the Yellow River has shown an upward trend, but it still remains below the levels recorded before 1989. The current utilization rate of water resources in the Yellow River has reached as high as 80%, far exceeding the internationally recognized warning line of 40%. Despite implementing the strictest water resource management system that considers water resources as the most rigid constraint, ecological protection and high-quality development cannot be guaranteed without increasing the effective water resource quantity of the Yellow River. According to the future economic and social development plan for the Yellow River Basin, even with the comprehensive adoption of enhanced water conservation measures, the water scarcity situation in the basin will persist in the future. According to the national requirements for high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, the total water demand outside the river is projected to be 54.8 billion cubic meters in 2035 and 56.8 billion cubic meters in 2050. Considering the future surface water and groundwater supply in the basin, as well as the water transfer from the Han River to the Wei River, the water shortage in the basin is expected to be 13.3 billion cubic meters and 13.7 billion cubic meters in 2035 and 2050, respectively. In the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, the water shortage is projected to be approximately 11 billion cubic meters and 11.3 billion cubic meters, respectively [1]. In this situation, considering the South-to-North Water Diversion Western Route plan to increase the effective water resources of the Yellow River is essential.
2.2 Future Challenges of Water and Sediment Changes
Accurately predicting how water and sediment will change in the future is a prerequisite for decision-making in the protection and management of the Yellow River, and it is also a core issue that future research on the Yellow River must first address. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the characteristics and trends of water and sediment changes under different scenarios based on historical climate and the relationship between water and sediment. The results of the new climate scenarios from the Sixth Phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) indicate that future temperature increases in the Yellow River Basin (upstream of Huayuankou) will lead to further increases in precipitation [1]. Based on future climate scenario data, predictions using the distributed hydrological model GBEHM indicate that the increase in annual runoff in the Yellow River source region and upper reaches over the next 50 years (2021-2070) will not be significant, while there will be a noticeable increase in annual runoff in the midstream. Overall, the average annual runoff for the entire basin in the next 50 years is expected to increase compared to the period from 1960 to 2019, with an increase of approximately 12% (6.37 billion cubic meters) under low emissions scenarios and about 15% (8.16 billion cubic meters) under high emissions scenarios.
Based on the output data from nine climate models and using the HydroTrend model for predictions, the results indicate that the annual sediment load at Tongguan Station is expected to increase from 174 million to 237 million tons to between 329 million and 447 million tons over the next 50 years (2021–2070). In contrast, predictions from the digital watershed model show that the long-term average sediment load at Tongguan Station will range from 150 million to 330 million tons per year (with an average of 205 million tons per year), exhibiting fluctuating changes [1]. Using multi-source data-driven models to predict future changes in water and sediment in the Yellow River, the results indicate that “too little water and too much sediment” will continue to be a primary characteristic of the Yellow River Basin for an extended period in the future [11].
It is worth noting that the Yellow River source region, located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the “Third Pole,” is a sensitive area affected by climate change. The runoff produced in this region accounts for 49.4% of the total runoff of the Yellow River, yet the impact of climate change on the future water and sediment conditions of the Yellow River in this area remains unclear. The spatiotemporal characteristics of climate and hydrological changes over the next 50 years indicate that increases in precipitation and runoff will be primarily concentrated in the loess plateau region of the Yellow River’s midstream. This is particularly concerning during the flood season, where the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding may increase. Additionally, due to the combined effects of uneven spatial distribution of rainfall and reduced effectiveness of sediment retention dams, there is a possibility of extreme sediment events occurring in the future [1]. In addition, it remains unclear when the next turning point in future water and sediment changes will occur, and whether runoff and sediment transport will experience a “bottoming out and rebound.” These are all important issues for future research on the Yellow River.
2.3 Vulnerability of the Basin’s Ecological Environment
After more than 70 years of systematic management, the overall ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin has improved, but it still faces issues such as soil erosion, declining water quality, over-extraction of groundwater, and ecological degradation.
First, the upper source region is facing issues of ecological degradation. Located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yellow River source region is characterized by a typical continental high-altitude climate. It serves as an important area for runoff generation and water conservation in the Yellow River Basin, while also being a sensitive area to climate change and an ecologically fragile zone. Affected by both climate change and human activities, the ecosystem in the Yellow River source region is showing an overall trend of degradation. This includes phenomena such as rising snowlines, glacier retreat, grassland degradation, land desertification, and salinization. Additionally, the areas of tundra and cold temperate grassland/shrubland are shrinking. Future climate change is expected to exacerbate the warming and drying trends in the source region, increasing the risk of ecosystem degradation.
Secondly, the loess plateau region in the midstream of the Yellow River faces significant challenges in soil and water conservation and water environment protection efforts. The Loess Plateau, located in the central and northern parts of China, is the most severely affected area by soil erosion in the country, contributing over 90% of the sediment to the Yellow River. The Loess Plateau, located in the central and northern parts of China, is the most severely affected area by soil erosion in the country, contributing over 90% of the sediment to the Yellow River. The Loess Plateau region is characterized by a typical temperate semi-arid continental monsoon climate, where extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and droughts frequently occur, making it sensitive to climate change. Additionally, the region has significant topographical variation, with a fragmented landscape of ravines and gullies, leading to frequent geological disasters such as landslides, mudslides, and collapses. This results in severe loss of soil and water resources, and the ecological environment is fragile, making it one of the areas in China with the most concentrated contradictions between population, resources, and the environment. Although significant achievements have been made in the ecological management of the Loess Plateau, approximately 200,000 km2 of area suffering from soil erosion still urgently requires treatment. Furthermore, the lifespan of sediment retention dams typically ranges from 10 to 30 years, meaning that their effectiveness in sediment trapping will diminish in the future, and there is a risk that they could become sources of sediment after they fail. Additionally, the water consumption for economic and social development exceeds the carrying capacity of water resources, leading to the shrinkage of some rivers and lakes and a decline in groundwater levels. The ecological flow and self-purification capacity of tributaries in the midstream are difficult to ensure, with heavy pollution loads in rivers such as Huangfu River, San River, Yan River, Fen River, and Wei River. Approximately 23% of certain river sections have seriously polluted water quality, categorized as Class V or worse.
Finally, to prevent frequent flooding from small to medium-sized floods, residents in the floodplain areas of the lower Yellow River have long built numerous production embankments, which have exacerbated the formation of a secondary “hanging river.” Within the large floodplain area formed inside the flood protection dikes, there are ecosystems such as wetlands, farmlands, and grasslands, all of which face a high risk of ecological degradation. The ecosystem of the Yellow River delta is showing a trend of degradation, with increasing water and salt stress. The sediment flowing into the sea has continuously decreased, causing significant erosion at the river mouth. Wetland connectivity has been disrupted, and over the past 30 years, the wetland area has decreased by approximately 500 km2. At the same time, rivers such as Diaokou River are experiencing reduced water and sediment flow, severe erosion, soil salinization due to water scarcity, and significant degradation of artificial forested areas.
2.4 “Hanging River” and Flood Control Issues
Climate change is leading to an increasing trend in extreme rainfall events. Meteorological data shows that precipitation intensity in the Yellow River Basin has significantly increased in the past decade. In the future, the likelihood of extreme rainstorms similar to the “7.20” event in Zhengzhou in 2021 may rise, potentially leading to more frequent floods and associated disasters, resulting in severe losses. The risk of water damage to silt-retaining dams on the Loess Plateau will also increase, as extreme rainstorms may lead to dam breaches, resulting in high-sediment flood disasters in tributaries.
Changes in water usage across the basin have altered the natural water distribution during flood and non-flood seasons in the Ningxia-Inner Mongolia section of the upper Yellow River. Over the past 30 years, this section has experienced annual sediment buildup and rising riverbeds, with noticeable channel shrinkage, resulting in the formation of a new “hanging river” in certain segments. The bank full discharge in the Inner Mongolia section has decreased from about 4,000 m3/s to 2,000 m3/s, with the “hanging river” reaching a maximum elevation difference of 4 meters above ground level, reducing its capacity to handle ice floods and intensifying issues related to ice-jam flooding.
The floodplain area in the lower Yellow River serves both as a flood discharge and retention zone and as an important area for the production and livelihood of local residents, making the flood control situation particularly challenging. Over the past 70 years, floodwaters have overflowed onto the floodplain more than 30 times, affecting over 9 million people, and inundating 1.33 million hm2 of farmland [12]. With ongoing economic and social development and the comprehensive advancement of Yellow River management, local development has increased the demand for land resources. The production and living spaces for nearly 1.63 million people residing in the floodplain continue to encroach upon the river's flood discharge area, with unregulated construction of production levees, leading to increasingly serious safety issues [13].
3 Recommendations for Ecological Protection, High-Quality Development, and Sustainable Stability of the Yellow River Basin
In response to the above issues, recommendations are proposed across seven areas: water resource security, ecological management, water-sediment regulation, water resource allocation, energy structure transformation, land use optimization, and the development of a “Smart Yellow River.” These efforts aim to continuously promote ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, achieving long-term stability and transforming the Yellow River into a “river of happiness” that benefits the people.
3.1 Open up new sources, save resources, and build a water resource security system for the basin.
The basic situation of resource-related water scarcity in the Yellow River basin will not change in the future. Opening new sources and saving resources is an inherent demand to support high-quality development in the basin. Ensuring multiple water sources, establishing an efficient water resource utilization and water rights incentive mechanism, and constructing a water resource security system that promotes high-quality development are important measures to address the contradiction between water supply and demand.
1) Adhere to water conservation as a priority. Promote the construction of a water-saving society comprehensively, and develop reasonable water-saving measures based on local conditions to achieve agricultural water savings of over 2.2 billion cubic meters in the basin. The Ningmeng irrigation area has achieved water conservation and a balanced water-salt ratio through measures such as improving the autumn irrigation and winter irrigation system and developing a combination of well and canal irrigation, which helps maintain an appropriate groundwater level and ensures water for forestry and grassland ecosystems. The Fenwei Plain has increased the irrigation water guarantee rate and utilization coefficient by continuing to build supporting projects for irrigation areas. In the Huanghuaihai Plain, the Yellow River irrigation area has achieved its water-saving goals by increasing the proportion of water-saving irrigation areas. Strengthen water conservation in industrial and urban areas, increase the rate of industrial water reuse, and promote water-saving facilities for daily life. By vigorously developing water-saving facilities and technologies, implementing a nationwide water conservation campaign, and promoting a shift from extensive to efficient water usage practices.
2) Ensure water supply safety through multiple sources. Based on the national water resource allocation framework of “four horizontal and three vertical” lines, scientifically allocate the water volume from the Eastern and Central routes of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, and reasonably replace the water volume drawn from the Yellow River. Accelerate the demonstration and construction of the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project to enhance the security of water resources in the basin. Strengthen the coordinated management and regulation of surface water and groundwater in the basin; rationally extract groundwater, gradually reducing the over-extraction of shallow groundwater and the amount of deep groundwater extracted; appropriately increase groundwater extraction in the Ningmeng irrigation area to help prevent salinization. Develop unconventional water sources, significantly improve urban sewage treatment levels and reuse rates, promote seawater desalination technology, and focus on the reasonable utilization and development of atmospheric water resources to ensure multi-source protection of water supply safety in the basin.
3) Adhere to the principle of “determining cities, land, population, and production based on water resources.” Treat water resources as a rigid constraint on economic and social development. Establish a refined monitoring system for basin water use, implement the strictest water resource management system and river chief system, enforce total water consumption control and quota management, improve water use efficiency, and ensure both the quantity and quality of water for ecological and environmental purposes.
4) Establish a water resource security management system. Build a basin-wide water rights market, establishing a four-tier water market involving users, departments, provinces (regions), and the basin. Promote seasonal water quantity trading and long-term water rights transactions, while coordinating the research on the pricing mechanism for Yellow River water and inter-regional water transfer. Use economic means to incentivize water conservation. Include smart water management high-tech and related infrastructure in the national “new infrastructure” initiative, and pilot the construction of smart water conservancy demonstration projects. Strengthen the supervision of water extraction and usage.
3.2 Ecological Priority, Systematic Governance, Achieving Ecological Environment Restoration and Protection in Key Areas of the Basin
To govern the Yellow River, the focus should be on protection, with an emphasis on management. We must prioritize ecology, coordinating upstream and downstream, both banks, and main and tributary rivers. This involves strengthening the integrity and connectivity of the watershed ecosystem, systematically protecting, comprehensively restoring, and integrated managing it. Special emphasis should be placed on protecting the ecological health of the river source, enhancing soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau, and restoring the ecological health of the estuarine wetlands.
1) For the Yellow River source area, we should promote the conservation of water sources and the construction of ecological barriers, as well as enhance the proactive utilization of cloud water resources. By developing new artificial rainfall enhancement technologies and measures, we can improve the utilization rate of cloud water resources and alleviate the trend of warming and drying in the source area. At the same time, in key water conservation areas such as the Sanjiangyuan, Gannan, Qilian Mountains, and Qinling, major ecological protection and restoration projects should be promoted, and the construction of national parks should be accelerated to protect ecosystems such as mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, sands, wetlands, and glaciers.
2) For the middle reaches, efforts should focus on soil and water conservation, vegetation restoration, improving the water quality of main and tributary rivers, and enhancing the protection and ecological restoration of rivers and lakes. Strengthen soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau region by implementing measures such as afforestation where suitable, planting shrubs where appropriate, establishing grasslands, and leaving barren areas where necessary. This approach will optimize vegetation community structure and landscape patterns, enhancing ecosystem service functions. Carry out comprehensive management of small watersheds, constructing a sediment retention and reduction system centered on terraced fields and silt detention dams. Develop a long-term plan for building silt dams that aligns with the new water and sediment conditions. Reduce pollution loads, enhance wastewater treatment standards, and implement comprehensive management and ecological restoration for ecologically fragile and heavily polluted rivers like the Fen River and Wei River. Implement comprehensive management to curb groundwater over-extraction, promote green mining practices, and innovate green development models that harmonize resource utilization with ecological conservation.
3) For the estuary area, protect wetland ecosystems and biodiversity, and promote ecological restoration of the Yellow River Delta. Coordinate ecological protection with flood safety, maintain stable flow routes to the sea, and strengthen the protection of alternative flow routes such as the Diaokou River. Increase ecological water replenishment, ensure adequate water flow to the sea, balance the water-sediment flux at the river’s mouth, meet the water needs of various ecological communities, and support the restoration of the delta ecosystem and stability of the natural coastline.
3.3 Comprehensive Scheduling, Addressing Shortcomings to Improve Flood, Ice Prevention, and Water-Sediment Regulation Systems in the Basin
Although the water and sediment inflows in the Yellow River Basin have significantly changed, the characteristics of sediment deposition and the elevated “suspended river” state remain fundamentally unaltered, and the threat of flood and ice disasters remains severe. Given the overall situation of low water and high sediment, as well as the lack of coordination and uneven processes, using engineering measures to regulate water and sediment remains the preferred approach to ensure the safety and stability of the Yellow River. Building a comprehensive water and sediment regulation engineering system for the entire river basin, and restoring the flood discharge and sediment drainage functions of the rivers, will remain an important means of coordinating water and sediment relations and preventing flooding and ice jams in the Yellow River for the foreseeable future. This is also a crucial strategic measure to ensure the long-term stability and peace of the Yellow River.
1) Strengthen the coordinated management of the downstream floodplain and the “suspended river.” In recent years, the water conservancy and soil conservation measures in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River have continued to yield benefits, leading to a reduction in sediment entering the Yellow River. The continuous elevation of the riverbed in the lower Yellow River has been temporarily curbed by the water and sediment regulation effects of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir. However, the situation of the “suspended river” in the lower Yellow River has not changed. The focus should be on ensuring resident safety and prioritizing ecological governance. Research should be conducted on the technology for reconstructing wide river channel morphology, and reasonable water and sediment load allocation plans for the riverbanks should be developed. Areas suitable for habitation should be inhabited, areas suitable for agriculture should be farmed, and areas suitable for water should be utilized for water management. Space for water discharge should be identified, and the natural functions of some riverbanks should be gradually restored. At the same time, by purposefully and on a large scale depositing sediment onto the riverbanks and low-lying areas outside the levees, it is possible to both reduce sediment-related damage and utilize the sediment for beneficial purposes [14]. In addition, continue to implement water and sediment regulation projects aimed at managing the “suspended river,” ensuring the safety of the levees, achieving a healthy ecosystem in the floodplain, promoting people’s livelihoods, and advancing the comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development of the lower Yellow River.
2) Improve the sediment regulation engineering system for the main and tributary rivers across the entire basin. Climate change has significantly increased the uncertainty of hydrological processes, intensifying the threats of strong erosion and major flooding caused by extreme rainfall. Given the ongoing reduction in the sediment retention capacity of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, it is urgent to advance the construction of sediment regulation projects on main rivers such as the Guqian, in order to shape a coordinated water-sediment relationship and enhance the downstream’s ability to withstand flooding. On one hand, it is necessary to strengthen the management of tributaries to prevent high-sediment floods caused by the failure of sediment retention structures on the Loess Plateau due to heavy rain in the mid-stream region. On the other hand, we should rely on key projects to address shortcomings and establish a comprehensive water-sediment regulation system for the Yellow River that integrates the seven reservoirs (Longyangxia, Liujiagang, Heishankou, Qikou, Guqian, Sanmenxia, and Xiaolangdi). The primary functions of the Guqian Reservoir are water-sediment regulation and flood disaster prevention. It plays a positive role in extending the service life of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, enhancing the benefits of the Sanmenxia Reservoir, reducing the elevation at Tongguan, and addressing the “suspended river” issue in the lower reaches of the Wei River. Particularly, its collaboration with the Xiaolangdi Reservoir for water-sediment regulation can further improve the flood discharge and sediment transport capacity of the downstream river channel, mitigate the “suspended river” situation, and is crucial for ensuring flood safety and infrastructure development in the lower reaches.
3) Accelerate the construction of the Heishan Gorge hydraulic hub. In the past 30 years, the riverbed of the Yellow River in the Ningxia and Inner Mongolia regions has gradually accumulated and risen, resulting in a significant shrinkage of the river channel. In this situation, how to utilize the upstream flow to achieve water and sediment regulation in the Ningxia and Inner Mongolia sections of the Yellow River through the Heishan Gorge hydraulic hub, restore the river’s flood capacity, and eliminate the threat of ice flooding is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. Accelerate the completion of the feasibility study for the development of the Heishan Gorge section, comprehensively comparing options for the stepwise layout, dam site, dam height, reservoir capacity, and more. Thoroughly research the functional positioning of the Heishan Gorge hydraulic hub in water and sediment regulation, water (sediment) resource allocation, regulation of the South-to-North Water Diversion West Line project, agricultural development in irrigation areas, and ecological protection. The goal is to develop a plan that balances the interests of Gansu and Ningxia provinces (regions), meets flood control and ice flood prevention needs, reduces sedimentation in the river, supplies water for agricultural irrigation, and promotes the construction of a green energy base integrating water, wind, and solar energy, thereby maximizing comprehensive benefits.
3.4 Spatial Balance and Cross-Domain Coordination: Creating a New Framework for National Water Resource Allocation in the South-to-North Water Diversion and West-to-East Water Transfer Projects
The South-to-North Water Diversion project, as a major strategic water resource allocation project in China, serves as the main framework and major artery of the national water network. The completion of the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion project’s eastern and central lines has effectively alleviated the water resource scarcity in the receiving areas, ensured water supply for large and medium-sized cities along the route, and timely provided ecological water replenishment to rivers and lakes, resulting in significant benefits. To address the water resource shortage of the Yellow River, a coordinated national approach is needed. This should be based on the principles of “spatial balance, north-south allocation, east-west mutual assistance, and consideration of short, medium, and long-term needs” for comprehensive planning and allocation [15].
1) Accelerate the construction of the second phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion East Line, the Yangtze River to Han River water transfer in the Middle Line, and the supporting projects and storage capacity along the route. he South-to-North Water Diversion East Line project has secure water sources and is less affected by environmental factors. Efforts should be made to enhance the storage capacity in the water-receiving areas. With a designed flow rate of 870 m3/s, through storage and optimized scheduling, the average annual water diversion scale can be increased to approximately 15.5 billion m3. After the implementation of the Central Line project that diverts water from the Yangtze River to replenish the Han River, the water diversion capacity can be expanded to 11.5 billion m3. After the operation of the East and Central Line Phase II projects, the water supply to the receiving areas will be effectively increased, and the guarantee rate will be improved, significantly alleviating the water supply pressure in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
2) Coordinate the water from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Yellow River, optimizing the unified management of water resources across the entire basin. After completion of the middle route's Yangtze-to-Han River diversion, the northern extension of the first phase, and the second phase of the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, more than 20 billion m3 of water can be transferred annually to Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shandong, and Henan. It is recommended to comprehensively study and optimize the allocation of water from both the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Yellow River. Following the principle of “small adjustments, major stability,” the “87 Water Allocation Plan” for the Yellow River should be adjusted in phases and at appropriate times, allowing the eastern and middle routes of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project to benefit a broader area.
3) Actively promote the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is a strategic project essential and urgent for fundamentally addressing water scarcity in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River. It is necessary to scientifically research and evaluate its diversion routes and water transfer scale. Implementing the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project to transfer water from the Yangtze River to the Yellow River Basin, along with the construction of supporting infrastructure, has been deemed economically and technically feasible after over 70 years of evaluation by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources. In the near term, water can be diverted from the Yalong River and Dadu River, with a suitable diversion volume of 8 to 9 billion m3, taking into full account the downstream ecological environment, power generation, and water supply needs of the source area. In the long term, including water diversion from the Jinsha River, the volume could reach 15 to 17 billion m3.
4) Coordinate and advance the strategic layout of “West-to-East Water Diversion.” The rivers in Southwest China have abundant water resources, accounting for 20% of the country’s total water resources, making it a significant water reserve area. However, the development and utilization rate is less than 2%. It is recommended to coordinate the planning of the eastern, central, and western routes of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and other water transfer projects, while comprehensively studying the concept of transferring water from the Yangtze River and Southwest rivers to the east. In the near term, water will be drawn from the Lancang River and Nu River into the Jinsha River, linking it with the South-to-North Water Diversion West Route Project; in the long term, water will be drawn from the Yarlung Tsangpo River to supply ecological and energy development water for the Hexi Corridor and Qaidam Basin, with the possibility of providing supplementary water to the upstream of the Jinsha River when necessary. By moderately adjusting water flow through engineering measures, we can reduce the risk of flood disasters downstream of international rivers, explore mechanisms for international cooperation and consultation, and achieve shared benefits.
3.5 Multi-Energy Complementarity and Joint Operation: Building a Low-Carbon Clean Energy System for Coordinated Development of Water, Wind, and Solar Power
Energy is the greatest advantage of the Yellow River Basin; however, there are current issues such as structural contradictions, a lack of prominent industrial advantages, and insufficient technological leadership. To address these issues, it is necessary to optimize the energy structure, accelerate the construction of integrated clean energy production bases that combine water, solar, wind, and storage, and enhance the capabilities and controllability of cascade energy storage and pumped storage across the basin. This will help build an integrated clean power system encompassing source, grid, load, and storage. In the future, the installed capacity for clean energy in the Yellow River Basin could reach 178 million kW, generating 350 billion kWh of electricity annually. This would reduce carbon emissions by approximately 327 million tons each year, equivalent to saving 131 million tons of standard coal, thereby contributing to the promotion of green, low-carbon, high-quality development.
1) Accelerate the construction of key water conservancy and hydropower projects along the main stream of the Yellow River to establish a comprehensive engineering regulation system for the Yellow River Basin as soon as possible. The installed capacity ratios of hydropower, photovoltaic, and wind power in the northwestern provinces (regions) of the Yellow River Basin are significantly higher than the national average. However, the main challenge for photovoltaic and wind power as primary energy sources lies in their volatility, while hydropower serves as a stabilizer to regulate solar and wind power generation and ensure the stability of the power grid. According to estimates, hydropower can regulate 2 to 3 times the amount of solar and wind renewable energy. Therefore, under the new circumstances of large-scale development of renewable energy, it is necessary to shift the traditional role of hydropower from “quantity as the main regulation and support” to a model of “equal emphasis on quantity and regulation, with regulation as the primary focus and quantity as the support.” This requires accelerating the construction and renovation of cascade hydropower projects. According to the “Comprehensive Plan for the Yellow River Basin (2012-2030),” by 2020, the conventional hydropower installed capacity in the river section of the Yellow River below Maqu had reached 22.24 million kW, with an additional planned installed capacity of 12.2 million kW for unconstructed power stations, accounting for 35.4% of the total planned installed capacity, indicating a significant potential for further development. At the same time, promoting the expansion and capacity enhancement of existing hydropower stations and the construction of energy storage pumping stations can further improve the absorption capacity of solar and wind energy and enhance the power delivery capability. It is recommended to expedite the construction of three key reservoirs in the comprehensive planning of the Yellow River: the Heishan Gorge, Guqian, and Qikou reservoirs, which will add a total storage capacity of approximately 36.5 billion cubic meters and a total installed capacity of 5.9 million kW, thereby enhancing the power generation and storage capacity as well as the regulation capability for new energy across the entire river basin.
2) Accelerate the development of solar and wind resources, and build a clean energy base that integrates multiple energy sources and operates jointly. The Northwest region of China is rich in solar and wind energy, with solar radiation intensity and wind power density approximately 1.5 times and 2.0 times greater than that of the eastern and central regions, respectively. The five provinces (regions) of Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia have a potential for new energy technology development of about 17.8 billion kW, including 15.8 billion kW from solar energy and 2 billion kW from wind energy, making it suitable for centralized and large-scale development. The upper reaches of the Yellow River are rich in hydropower resources, providing a natural advantage for the development of a clean energy base that integrates multiple complementary energy sources such as water, solar, wind, and storage. By leveraging the hydropower regulation capacity of the key Longyangxia Reservoir, the concentrated and large-scale development of water, wind, and solar new energy in the basin can be promoted, resulting in the establishment of a clean energy base with a total installed capacity of nearly 30 million kW, equivalent to building a Three Gorges hydropower station in the north. It is recommended to accelerate the construction of a multi-energy complementary clean energy base in the upper reaches of the Yellow River to lead the development of multi-energy complementary green new energy in China.
3) Promote the construction of energy storage facilities with pumped storage as the core. Pumped storage power stations are special power sources in the power system used for peak shaving, valley filling, frequency regulation, and phase adjustment. The northwest region has a vast area and a sparse population, providing ample space for pumped storage siting. It is expected that the total installed capacity for pumped storage in the five provinces (regions) along the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River will exceed 70 million kW in the future. It is recommended to vigorously promote the large-scale construction of pumped storage at both the source and load ends, while coordinating and optimizing the integrated regulation capacity of new energy storage technologies such as electrochemical storage, compressed air storage, and hydrogen conversion. This will help build a safe and stable clean power system, achieve energy structure transformation, and ensure stable electricity transmission to North and Central China, thus safeguarding national energy security.
4) Develop industries such as new energy and new materials to promote the high-quality local absorption of energy and drive high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. Enhancing energy development and local absorption levels is an important measure to promote the energy revolution and high-quality economic and social development in the Yellow River Basin. Leveraging energy and resource advantages, establish a high-quality energy-intensive industrial belt, promote industrial restructuring, and develop high-value industries such as new energy, new materials, electronic information, and big data. This will support the local absorption of clean energy within the basin and drive high-quality development across provinces (regions) in the Yellow River Basin.
3.6 Coordinated Resource Development and Ecological Protection: Tackle the Yellow River Bend Challenge and Establish a New Framework for National Land Use
As one of the three landmark initiatives of the new era’s “Three-North” Project, the Yellow River Bend campaign is of paramount importance. The Yellow River Bend spans North and Northwest China, covering Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Gansu provinces (regions). This area includes the deserts (sandy lands) of Kubuqi, Ulan Buh, Tengger, and Mu Us; significant mountain ranges such as the Yinshan, Taihang, Lüliang, Helan, and Liupan mountains; as well as the Loess Plateau and the Ten Great Gulches of Inner Mongolia. It serves as a major source and pathway for sandstorms impacting Beijing, Tianjin, and eastern regions and is a primary source of sediment for the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. In June 2024, during his inspection in Ningxia, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of “winning the Yellow River Bend battle by coordinating efforts in forest, grassland, wetland, and desert ecosystem protection and restoration, along with comprehensive management of saline-alkali land, to make ‘Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall’ increasingly beautiful.”
It is recommended to leverage Yellow River water resources and the South-to-North Water Diversion’s western route, utilizing the regulatory capacity of projects like Heishan Gorge. This approach should coordinate water, solar, and wind energy development, integrating efforts in water conservation, water transfer, shelter forest construction, grassland restoration, and eco-agricultural development in the Yellow River Bend region. The goal is to systematically address sand issues, establish a coordinated land space protection and utilization framework, and create a comprehensive base for ecology, agriculture, animal husbandry, energy, and carbon sinks to advance ecological management in the upper and middle Yellow River and regions like the Hexi Corridor. According to estimates, a land area of 20 million hm2 can be managed while preserving the core zones of the natural ecological landscape.
3.7 Technology-Led and Future-Oriented Approach: Advancing Smart Yellow River Development
Driven by the information technology revolution, the digital economy is reshaping production factors, productivity, and production relations, promoting the digitalization, intelligence, and smart transformation of traditional industries. The management of the Yellow River Basin must seize the historical opportunity presented by the rapid development of information technology. It should fully utilize new-generation information technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence to develop the Smart Yellow River initiative. This approach will enhance the role of information technology in disaster prevention for water and drought, water and sediment regulation, optimized water resource allocation, soil and water conservation, ecological governance, and promoting high-quality economic and social development, thereby supporting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.
The construction of the Smart Yellow River should consider the following aspects: 1) Human-Centered Approach: Shift the positioning of the Smart Yellow River from a management tool for professionals to an open system aimed at the public, allowing the public to become direct users and actively participate in the ecological protection and governance of the Yellow River Basin. 2) Global Perspective: Expand the focus beyond the Yellow River Basin to include the water cycle, establishing a holistic methodology and modeling system aimed at the global water cycle. This approach will analyze the interaction mechanisms between the water cycle and different spheres and their impacts on water resources, water disasters, and the water environment in the Yellow River Basin. 3) Metaverse of the Yellow River Basin: Realize a metaverse for the Yellow River Basin by creating a digital twin scenario that combines virtual and physical elements (i.e., the basin metaverse). This will enable real-time simulation and virtual modeling of nature and socio-economic activities in the virtual world, thereby better supporting management decisions and implementation in the basin.
4. Conclusion
The Yellow River Basin is the birthplace of Chinese civilization and the source of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Yellow River is a river of happiness that benefits the Chinese people. In the long history of Yellow River civilization, development and protection have always been an inseparable community, serving as the main thread in the formation and development of Yellow River civilization. The new Yellow River civilization requires further development of ecological civilization, agricultural civilization, industrial civilization, technological civilization, and spiritual civilization. The inheritance, reconstruction, and innovation of Yellow River civilization essentially represent a high-quality development of Yellow River civilization in the context of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the new historical period, we must deeply implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the symposium on ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. The new goal of “making the Yellow River a river of happiness that benefits the people” presents us with new requirements, calling for joint and relentless efforts from all sectors of society. We aim to build a safe, intelligent, and happy Yellow River, ensuring that the Yellow River Basin thrives and flourishes alongside the comprehensive revival of Chinese civilization.
Acknowledgments: This article is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ consultation and evaluation projects: “Yellow River Water and Engineering Strategies” (2020-ZW06-A-016), “Research on Sustainable Development Strategies for China’s Response to Global Climate Change in Terms of Water, Soil, Light, and Heat” (2021-JS02-B-019), and “Research on the Strategic Areas for Harmonious Coexistence of Humans and Nature under Chinese Modernization” (2023-ZW-07-A-023). I would like to express my gratitude to all the academicians and experts who participated in these consultation projects.
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