Establishment and thinking of modern flood control and safety system in the Yangtze River Basin

Chen Yongsheng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1123.2024.24.010

Abstract：The Yangtze River is the mother river of the Chinese nation,and flood control has always been the primary task of river governance and conservation. Centered on establishment of flood control safety system,systematic analysis of features and tasks under the new situation was conducted that made high requirements for flood control and disaster reduction because of their dominated position in national economy,society,and ecology. Scientific principles,objectives,and optimization plans for flood control planning in the Yangtze River are introduced. The necessity of optimizing and adjusting flood control planning is discussed from three aspects. Firstly,population and assets in flood control protection areas are highly concentrated,with an obvious amplification effect of flood losses. Secondly,dam construction such as Three Gorges Project in the upper reach,has changed the pattern of flood storage and discharge in the middle and lower reaches,requiring new arrangement of flood control schemes. Thirdly,climate change has led to an increase in extreme weather events,increasing the uncertainty of flood disasters. Facing the above challenges,key goals for a modern flood control safety system are proposed. It aims to realize "systematic flood control,intelligent decision-making and law-based management" by 2035,so as to enhance the resilience and ensure safety of the Yangtze River. Specific measures include optimizing water level for flood control in the middle and lower reaches,adjusting the layout of flood storage and detention areas,strengthening classification and regulation of sandbars and embankments,rainwater monitoring and forecasting system and digital twin technology,to achieve intelligent scheduling in the basin. Establishment of a modern flood control and safety system shall not only safeguard sustainable development of economy and society,but also ensure effective response to extreme weather events and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. It can also provide scientific guidelines and policy bases to achieve long-term stability in the Yangtze River Basin.