Wang Jianzhong¹  Wang Daoxi¹  Ke Sujuan¹  Xing Hua²

(1.  Department of Water Resources Management and Regulation, YRCC, Zhengzhou 450004, Henan, China;
(2.  Institute of the Yellow River Estuary Research, Dongying 257091, Shandong Province, China)

Abstract: The Yellow River Delta wetland is the youngest, widest, intactest and biggest wetland in China temperate zone. In 1992, the National Nature Reserve was set up. In 1980s and 1990s, the lower Yellow River dried up frequently and the Yellow River estuary ecosystem, whose main water source is Yellow River water, was destroyed seriously. The wetland area shrank and the species and amount of the biology were reduced obviously. Since 1999, after implementation of integrated water regulation of the Yellow River, fresh water resources flow into the estuary area constantly, and it has been no drying up for continuous 7 years, as a result, the fresh water level is rising; the water amount flowing into the sea is increased in planning from March to June, when the biology growth and propagation are in bloom. In addition, continuous 5 years¡¯ regulation of water and sediment since 2002, large amount of fresh water flowed into the dried wetland nearby the estuary, and a large amount of sediment were transported into the sea, as a result, the situation of sea water intrusion and land erosion are contained effectively and the wetland area was restored gradually. However, it still exist some problems in water regulation such as water for ecological use is occupied by productive use. In the future, the regulation of the environmental flow of the Yellow River should be intensified by carrying out the Byelaw of Yellow River Water Regulation.

Key words: Yellow River Delta    environmental flow    regulation