Groundwater response to global changes is a complex function that depends on climate change and variability, topography, aquifer characteristics, vegetation dynamics, and human activities.
Considering the fact that the knowledge of groundwater situation shouls be updated and lacks of factor of climate change scenario, GWP China Shaanxi has conducted a series of studies to analyze the important role of groundwater in water resources allocation, propose a legislational system and provide policy recommendations to the decision makers to strengthen the management of groundwater in Shaanxi Province. The study report was submitted to the Provincial Government on March 27, 2013 which played an important role in the practice of flood and drought control in Shaanxi Province based upon the presented analysis on the local and water situations as well as integrated management of groundwater in Shaanxi Province. As advocated by GWP China Shaanxi and being encouraged by the study report, Shaanxi Provincial Groundwater Monitoring and Management Bureau invited GWP China Shaanxi to investigate key areas of using groundwater in Shaanxi Province and collected recommendations of water sector at local levels in June,2013. Rather than worked behind the closed door, GWP China Shaanxi convinced Provincial Legislative Department to visit neighboring provinces to learn experiences and lessons of legislation on groundwater management in October,2013. The first draft of regulation on groundwater management in Shaanxi Province was completed in October 2013. The process of legislative management of groundwater in Shaanxi Province was actually promoted after a year of work by GWP China Shaanxi in cooperation with water –related departments in the province and it planned to make further efforts to facilitate related departments to revise the draft in 2014.
Integrated Management Study of Groundwater under the Climate Change Scenario in Shaanxi Province
Groundwater is a critical source of fresh drinking water for the citizens and also supplies irrigated agriculture in Shaanxi Province. Groundwater is also important in sustaining streams, lakes, wetlands, and associated ecosystems. In the meantime , effects of climate change on groundwater resources are closely linked to other global change drivers, including population growth, urbanization and land-use change, coupled with other socio-economic and political trends.