The concept of coordination degree of water-sediment relationship is put forward in this paper, which indicates that the coordinated water-sediment relationship of the Yellow River refers to maintaining the balance of sediment transport in the Lower Yellow River for a long period. An expression of the coordination degree of the water-sediment relationship of the Yellow River was established by the ratio of the incoming sediment coefficient and critical incoming sediment coefficient, and the critical incoming sediment coefficient of the lower Yellow River is 0.01kg•s/m6. When the coordination degree is greater than 1, it means that the incoming sediment coefficient is greater than the critical incoming sediment coefficient, and the water-sediment relationship is uncoordinated and the channel will be in a silting state. Conversely, when the coordination degree is less than 1, the water-sediment relationship is coordinated. The smaller the value is, the more coordinated the water-sediment relationship is. The sediment trap and the water-sediment regulation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir have played a significant role in coordinating the water-sediment relationship and reduced siltation in the Lower Yellow River. However, after the reservoir siltation capacity completely consumed, the water-sediment relationship in the Lower Yellow River will become uncoordinated and the main channel will recover silting. © 2020, China Water Power Press. All right reserved.