Identification of Water Scarcity and Providing Solutions for Adapting to Climate Changes in the Heihe River Basin of China

In ecologically fragile areas with arid climate, such as the Heihe River Basin in northwestern China, sustainable social and economic development depends largely on the availability and sustainable uses of water resource. However, there is more and more serious water resource shortage and decrease of water productivity in Heihe River Basin under the influence of climate change and human activities. This paper attempts to identify the severe water scarcity under climate change and presents possible solutions for sustainable development in Heihe River Basin. Three problems that intervened land use changes, water resource, the relevant policies and institutions in Heihe River basin were identified, including (1) water scarcity along with serious contradiction between water supply and demand, (2) irrational water consumption structure along with low efficiency, and (3) deficient systems and institutions of water resource management along with unreasonable water allocation scheme. In this sense, we focused on reviewing the state of knowledge, institutions, and successful practices to cope with water scarcity at a regional extent. Possible solutions for dealing with water scarcity are explored and presented from three perspectives: (1) scientific researches needed by scientists, (2) management and institution formulation needed by governments, and (3) water resource optimal allocation by the manager at all administrative levels.

[1]  M. Flörke,et al.  Future long-term changes in global water resources driven by socio-economic and climatic changes , 2007 .

[2]  Xiaolei Zhang,et al.  Influences of climate change and human activities on Tarim River runoffs in China over the past half century , 2012, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[3]  P. Stålnacke,et al.  Integrated Water Resources Management , 2010 .

[4]  Subhasis Giri,et al.  Evaluation of targeting methods for implementation of best management practices in the Saginaw River Watershed. , 2012, Journal of environmental management.

[5]  Honglang Xiao,et al.  Integrated study of the water–ecosystem–economy in the Heihe River Basin , 2014 .

[6]  C. Guodong,et al.  Water-saving Eco-agriculture and Integrated Water Resources Management in Heihe River Basin, Northwest China , 2008 .

[7]  Jisun Choi,et al.  Impacts of changes in climate and land use/land cover under IPCC RCP scenarios on streamflow in the Hoeya River Basin, Korea. , 2013, The Science of the total environment.

[8]  Hong Xiao,et al.  Water Scarcity and Water Use in Economic Systems in Zhangye City, Northwestern China , 2009 .

[9]  Chunhong Zhao,et al.  An extended input–output table for environmental and resources accounting , 2014 .

[10]  G. F. White.  A Perspective of River Basin Development , 1957 .

[11]  Xiangzheng Deng,et al.  An Extended Input Output Table Compiled for Analyzing Water Demand and Consumption at County Level in China , 2014 .

[12]  Philippe Quevauviller,et al.  The Water Framework Directive , 2008 .

[13]  E. Lin,et al.  Future climate change, the agricultural water cycle, and agricultural production in China , 2003 .

[14]  Shan-Zhong Qi,et al.  Water Environmental Degradation of the Heihe River Basin in Arid Northwestern China , 2005, Environmental monitoring and assessment.

[15]  David Wellington Essaw,et al.  Integrated Water Resources Management , 2012, Global Environmental Careers.

[16]  Zhao Yonghong,et al.  Regional Rural Development, Nitrogen Input and Output in Farming-Grazing System and its Environmental Impacts—A Case Study of the Wuliangsuhai Catchment , 2010 .

[17]  Huai Baojua.  RS analysis of glaciers change in the Heihe River Basinin the last 50 years , 2014 .

[18]  Bruce Mitchell,et al.  Integrated Water Resource Management, Institutional Arrangements, and Land-Use Planning , 2005 .

[19]  Q. Gao,et al.  Integrative assessment of hydrological, ecological, and economic systems for water resources management at river basin scale , 2009 .

[20]  Corinne Le Quéré,et al.  Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis , 2013 .

[21]  Karen Bakker,et al.  Water Security: Research Challenges and Opportunities , 2012, Science.

[22]  Xiaomeng Yu.  Water Scarcity: Fact or Fiction? , 2016 .

[23]  Q. Feng,et al.  Environmental isotopic and hydrochemical study of groundwater in the Ejina Basin, northwest China , 2009 .

[24]  C. Vörösmarty,et al.  Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth. , 2000, Science.

[26]  Frank R. Rijsberman,et al.  Water scarcity: Fact or fiction? , 2006 .

[27]  Chao Bao,et al.  Water resources constraint force on urbanization in water deficient regions: A case study of the Hexi Corridor, arid area of NW China , 2007 .

[28]  R. Roson,et al.  The Economic Impact of Water Taxes: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis with an International Data Set , 2008 .

[29]  Lu Ming-feng.  Water Issue and Its Countermeasure in the Inland River Basins of Northwest China——A Case Study in Heihe River Basin , 2006 .

[30]  Rainer Brüggemann,et al.  Aspects of decision support in water management--example Berlin and Potsdam (Germany) I--spatially differentiated evaluation. , 2004, Water research.

[31]  John J. Pigram.  Economic Instruments in the Management of Australia's Water Resources: A Critical View , 1999 .

[32]  M. Fuerhacker.  EU Water Framework Directive and Stockholm Convention , 2009, Environmental science and pollution research international.

[33]  Jinlong Zhang,et al.  Assessing the impacts of South-to-North Water Transfer Project with decision support systems , 2007, Decis. Support Syst..

[34]  J. Warner,et al.  Going with the flow: River basins as the natural units for water management? , 2008 .

[35]  Neil C. Turner,et al.  Improving agricultural water use efficiency in arid and semiarid areas of China , 2006 .

[36]  Chao Bao,et al.  Management Implications to Water Resources Constraint Force on Socio-economic System in Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study of the Hexi Corridor, NW China , 2007 .

[37]  F. Qi,et al.  Hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater environment of Heihe River Basin, northwest China , 2010 .

[38]  Ximing Cai.  Water stress, water transfer and social equity in Northern China--implications for policy reforms. , 2008, Journal of environmental management.

[39]  Qi Feng,et al.  Environmental changes after ecological water conveyance in the lower reaches of Heihe River, northwest China , 2009 .