METHODOLOGY TO TAME THE YELLOW RIVER COMPLETELY AND FOREVER

摘要

At present the LYR bed is 3m to 10m above the bank ground level. The high water head presses the YR water constantly seeping to the ground-water-table of the vast region, causing river water dwindling and the rising of the ground water table which minimizes the upper ground porosity and decreases the capacity to accommodate surface water during flooding in the adjacent area. While the construction of riverbank levees and high dykes along LYR, and multiple reservoirs on the UYR section have contributed significantly to slow down the problem of YR flooding, these solutions address only the symptom of the problem. Unless the root causes of sedimentation are decreased to minimum, YR flooding will never be fully conquered. The author proposes solutions to the root causes through improved management and eradication of excessive sediment in a 2-prong approach as emergency steps and long range actions to follow up. The emergency steps proposed in this paper are to: (1) Stop flushing sediment to the down stream from UYR reservoirs; (2) Speed up sediment transporting at estuary and along the LYR by using advanced methods and equipment in training, dredging, sand pumping, etc.; and, (3) Intensify improvements in soil and water conservation in the vast loess plateau. The long range actions are yearly maintaining and improving to keep YR healthy. Some new ideas to facilitate sand removing and training are also presented in this paper.