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  • 9 - The Yellow River Basin

  • from Part III - Engineered Rivers
  • Edited by Jurgen Schmandt, Aysegül Kibaroglu
  • Edited in association with Regina Buono, University of Texas, Austin, Sephra Thomas, University of Texas, Austin
  • Book:
    Sustainability of Engineered Rivers In Arid Lands
    Published online:
    16 September 2021
    Print publication:
    16 September 2021, pp 107-120

  • Summary

    The Yellow River is by its nature not sustainable since it carried the world’s heaviest silt load for a long time. Yet, this silt load (loess plateau) has fallen considerably in recent years, but at the cost of other forms of sustainability, such as streamflow. The reasons for this dramatic decline in runoff are complex. In addition to reducing silt load, terraces and vegetation have led to the marked reduction in runoff. The fall in natural runoff can also be attributed to groundwater and mining extractions, as well as reservoir filling. Population per se is not a major driver of water demand compared to irrigated agriculture and other sectors, notably mining and industry. While China is not a federal system, it is organized in a complex hierarchical system where provinces play an important role and are capable of serving their own interests in negotiating usages and allocations of the river. The chapter analyzes peculiar physical conditions and water management institutions in the Yellow River Basin.