Sustainable Development and Management of Water Resources in the Hei River Basin of North-west China

The quantitative and qualitative evaluation of water, land and biotic resources in the inland river basins is important in the arid zone. Analysis of the exploitation potential of water resources and the environmental changes through water development can help people in the sustainable development and management of water resources within the basin. Water resources development has affected the scale of oasis establishment in the middle reaches and the existence of lower-reach oases in the Hei River basin. Exploitation and utilization of water resources at the present stage should bring about a harmonic relation between economic development and the ecological environment in the whole basin. The whole area should be considered as an entirety to adopt feasible engineering and administrative measures such as strengthening the protection of water resources in upper streams, macro-control of water consumption and implementing water-saving measures in middle and lower reaches, quantitatively managing and allotting water resources in accordance with regional conditions and adherence to comprehensive rehabilitation. Thus, economic, environmental and social benefits of water resources can be enhanced.