An intuitionistic fuzzy based decision-making method for river operation management: Practice from China

River course is the path of carrying river flow and the blood of modern economic and social development. River operation management has attracted great attention from governments and water conservancy circles all over the world. In China, the river operation management mode refers to the combination of two dimensions: The organization method of river operation management and the bearing and use method of river maintenance fund. Based on the practice of China, we used a two-dimensional matrix method to construct a feasible mode set, including 12 modes, according to the various organization methods of river operation management and the bearing and use methods of river maintenance fund over the years in China. We also compared and analyzed the advantages, disadvantages, and applicable conditions of these 12 river operation management modes. In particular, we investigated the main rivers of 19 provinces and municipalities in China, identified the main factors of the river operation management mode, further identified 5 key indexes, and constructed a decision-making index system for the river operation management mode. We used the intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid average (IFHA) and intuitionistic fuzzy weighted average (IFWA) operators to construct a set of river operation management mode selection method based on intuitionistic fuzzy decision-making. A case study was conducted to select the operation management mode for the Heilongjiang section of Songhua River, using the method put forward in this paper. This study can promote water resource management research and prepare for a possible future sustainability emergency. © 2020 by the authors.