Key scientific issues of water allocation plan optimization and comprehensive operation for Yellow River basin

The evolution and scientific regulation of water resources in water shortage basins in relation to a changing environment is not only a key issue that is of global concern and study, but also a primary challenge China has to face in terms of water resource safety. This study aims to improve the ability of water resources allocation to solve the acute contradiction between the supply and demand of water resources in a basin affected by drastic environmental changes. The project recognized 5 key scientific issues:evolution of supply and demand of water resources, adaptive estimate, efficient sediment transport, water allocation plan optimization, and integrated dispatching. This project proposed a general framework to study the water resources optimization and comprehensive operation in the Yellow River Basin. This was done by analyzing the evolution mechanism between the supply and demand of water resources, conducting a comprehensive adaptive estimate for the water allocation plan, producing hydrodynamics condition building technology of efficient sediment transport in river-reservoir linkage, utilizing the dynamic equilibrium allocation theory of water resources, and implementing a multi-dimensional synergistic operation platform for the Yellow River cascade reservoirs. A water resources allocation and scheduling technology system was then constructed in a water shortage basin, which provided a method reference to improve the water resources management ability and comprehensive operation technology level.