Achievements and measures of ecological restoration of the Xiliao River
Lin Lan
Abstract：The Xiliao River is the only major river in China experiencing drying up,prompting the 2024 National Water Resources Working Conference to set a goal of achieving continuous flow throughout the Xiliao River mainstream. An analysis of the water resources conditions and development status in the Xiliao River basin,based on water resource surveys and assessments,reveals severe water shortages,rapid depletion,and a persistent drop in groundwater levels. Key challenges to ecological recovery in the Xiliao River include river course desiccation,groundwater over-extraction,river channel encroachment,and main riverbed shrinkage. This study summarizes the primary measures taken by the Songliao River Water Resources Commission of Ministry of Water Resources to restore continuous flow in the Xiliao River and achieve ecological recovery across the basin,focusing on four areas:strengthening integrated basin-wide water resource regulation,enforcing rigid constraints on water use,enhancing comprehensive groundwater management,and reinforcing river and lake management. Since 2020,especially following the scheduling adjustments in spring 2024,the Xiliao River has seen progressive ecological restoration,with increased water flow segments,extended water duration,and effective groundwater recharge. For full recovery of the Xiliao River,the study recommends accelerating comprehensive river channel improvement,optimizing and managing monitoring network construction,advancing fundamental research on runoff and confluence patterns,and promoting cross-basin ecological water replenishment.
Keywords：the Xiliao Riverriver course desiccationwater resource regulationecological water replenishmentecological restoration of rivers and lakes
Publication Date：2024-11-12
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 49-53 )