Ecological Strategies on the Demonstration of the Western Route Water Transfer

Abstract

To comply with the national strategic layout adjustment in recent years, and to promote ecological civilization construction in China western region, it is necessary to study the opportunities and challenges in the Western Route Water Transfer demonstration brought by in ecological and environmental changes in both water-source regions and water receiving regions. By referring to the operation management experience of the Eastern and Middle routes of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, this paper analyzed the ecological and environmental changes of the Western Route Project’s water transfer rivers, and the relationship between water and sediment of the Yellow River in water-receiving regions, found out the integrating point between the Western Route Project and the new development ideas, and finally concluded that the ecology must be given to priority in the demonstration of the Western Route Project. The early stage work of the Western Route Project needed to follow the general principles as for any major water conservancy project, which includes to demonstrate the project necessity given fully employing the water-saving potential, and to give highest priority to ecological security. Several relationships need be coordinated between: water source regions and water-receiving regions in water-saving, water ecological restoration and water resources development, water pollution control and water resources management, government leading and society participation, etc. These instruments above will guarantee both the water-source and water-receiving regions could benefit from the Western Route Project, help to solve the contradiction between ecological protection and water resources allocation, and facilitate achieving the target of sustainable development.