Heihe River ("Black River") is the second largest inland river in China’s northwest region, 928 km long with a river basin area of 25,600 km2, flowing over three provinces, Qinghai, Gansu and Inner Mongolia. Historic evolution of spatial pattern for water resources development and utilization in the Heihe River basin is representative in the arid regions of Northwest China.
The earliest history of large-scale water resources development and utilization in this basin can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D.220). In modern times, Heihe River is the first inland river that has implemented the integrated water resources management and operation in China.
GWP China Yellow River, working with the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) and Heihe River Basin Administration, has promoted the IWRM in the Heihe River Basin for over a decade.
For summarizing the experiences of the IWRM application in Heihe River Basin, GWP China Yellow River and the YRCC organized an on-site survey in late September of 2015. The survey group convened the experts from the YRCC, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Heihe River Basin Administration, Yellow River Hydraulic Research Institute and Heihe River Research Center of Water and Ecologic Protection. The investigation involved the mainstream flora of the upstream, irrigation and wetland of the mid-stream and tributaries of the downstream, targeting at water exploration and ecologic protection. The investigation results were collected and presented at the “Workshop on Water Resources Regulation in Heihe River Basin and Sustainable Economic and Social Development” on October 15 and 16, 2015, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.
The workshop was organized by GWP China Yellow River. It was planned to share the survey outputs and experiences on water resources regulation and management in Yellow River and Heihe River basins to strengthen water resources regulation and management in the two river basins in the future. More than 70 participants from River Basin Organizations/Bureaus, GWPO, GWP China, GWP Shaanxi and Fujian WPs, universities and institutions, NGOs and corporations participated in the event. The presentations and discussions were conducted regarding the actions taken and results achieved on water resources regulation and management in Yellow River and Heihe River basins and existing problems; relations between the healthy rivers and the water conservation society building; the methods to improve water use efficiency in the river basins and better protect the environment and restore ecological conditions; and recommendations on strengthening the water resources regulation and management and social development.
The activities promoted the interaction among authorities of the river basins for their joint planning of the integrated water resources management, water saving progress, sustainable development of water resources and harmony between human and nature, influencing around 2 million residents of the river basin. The proposal of “Integrated Planning of Heihe River Basin Development” was submitted to the YRCC and the Ministry of Water Resources as a reference for the decision making and further legislation.