Yellow River Water and Flood Management Study

摘要

The Yellow River watershed encompasses almost 800,000 square kilometres, an area about 20% larger than Alberta, with a population of 235 million people.rnThe river is prone to extreme conditions, with major flood events and droughts so severe that long reaches can dry up. In 1997 a 700-kilometre reach had a dry bed for 226 days.rnRapid economic and industrial development in recent years hasrnincreased the stresses on the river system, as well as affecting the water quality.rnThe Yellow River Conservancy Commission, part of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources, has the monumental task of managing the water system. The commission operates a large number of control facilities such as dams, reservoirs, dykes, sluices and pump stations.