An overview of water resources in the Yellow River basin

The Yellow River basin, an important agricultural and industrial region and the "Cradle of Chinese Civilization," is facing serious water shortage. The particular climatological and hydrologic conditions together with the disproportional development of economics are currently making sustainable water supply a rather complex and difficult task. Even so, the population still continues to increase, which poses considerable pressure on the already overburdened water resources in the study area. Traditional supply-oriented water resources management has proven to be insufficient to efficiently integrate the socio-economic development, environmental ecosystem, and limited renewable water resources. The Yellow River should be envisioned from broader perspectives, not only to recognize the symbolic dimension of the water resources management from a source of public goods or commodity water but also to regard the river basin as an ecosystem worthy of preservation and protection for future generations. An overview on the availability and demand aspects of the water resources in the Yellow River basin is presented, and the present and future situations of the water shortage are evaluated. In addition, perspectives on a new demand-oriented water resources management plan, in an effort to shift water resources management towards sustainability in the Yellow River basin, are proposed.