1. Progress of River Health
Assessment and Environmental
Flows Allocation in China
Dr . Yu Xingjun

Ministry of Water Resources of China

February 2011


2. Background
 Many rivers and lakes suffer quality deterioration,
changes in morphology and hydrology, as well as
habitat degradation.
 Since 1990s, water reallocations have been carried
out in the Yellow River, Hei River and Tarim River, which
reduced deterioration of river health in those basins.

3. Background
 In 1990s, a number of projects have been implemented which
have improved river health, including:
 “Water Supply to Zhalong Wetland”
 “Water Diversion from the Yangtze River to the Taihu Lake”
 “Water Supply to the Nansihu Lakes”
 “Water Diversion from the Yellow River to the Baiyangdian
Lake”
 “Reservoirs Dispatching for Pollution Dilution in the Huai
River ”
 “Water Regulation to Control Sea Water Intrusion in the
Estuary of the Pearl River”
 Starting in 2004, pilot projects have been undertaken in 12
cities to carry out ecological protection and rehabilitation of the
rivers and lakes in these regions.

4. National River Health Assessment Programme
(NRHAP)
Purpose: To help MWR and seven major river basin commissions
perform their role in water and ecological protection and contribute to
the achievement of river health objectives by 2020.
Outputs:
(i) river health assessment system established at national and major
river basin levels;
(ii) river health assessment bulletin issued to the public every 2 to 3
years .

5. Schedule of NRHAP
Phase I Phase II
Main tasks: Main tasks:
• Develop river health • Revision of relevant
assessment indicators, technical documents/
standards and guidelines
methodologies
• Study on key
• River health survey for technologies
a complete year
• Capacity building
• Preparation of River
Health Assessment • River health
Report (Pilots) assessment of major
rivers/lakes
• Capacity building
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

6. Workplan of Phase I
Study on
specific National Key
Technical Preparation topics; Rivers and Lakes
Technical Health Assessment
Guidance; Report (2011)
Pilot
assessment.
2009 2010 2011 2012

7. Current Work (2010 to 2011)
One river, lake and reservoir selected for
Pilot Assessment each of seven major basins to carry out
health assessment !
 Ecological survey of typical rivers/lakes and characterisation
study
 Study on river health assessment in China and abroad
 Data base analysis and investigation on monitoring capacity
Research
 River health assessment indicators
Studies
 River health assessment standards
 River health assessment methodologies

8. Challenges for River Health Assessment
 Insufficient knowledge about:
 ecological zoning for river health assessment
 threat-impact relations
 indicators, standards and methodologies
 Data base: Inadequate data and capacity on biological
and habitats monitoring
 Interagency collaboration: pollution (environmental
protection), wetland (forestry), fishery (agriculture)
 Lack of empirical studies: limited cases available in
terms of number and types

9. Environmental Flows
 The 2002 Water Law requires that ecological water
demand to be taken into consideration while developing and
allocating water resources
 One of the key principles guiding the preparation of the
national Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) 2009 is to
balance the water demands for domestic, productive and
ecological use, and meet the basic water needs of rivers and
lakes.
 IWRP 2009 proposes an objectives of national e-flows by
2030 in terms of total volume

10. Challenges
associated
with
E-­‐flows
• Although objectives are set in IWRP 2009, e-flows have
generally not been allocated to individual rivers/lakes
• E-flows analysis is qualitative and only a total (average
annual) volume is prescribed – e-flows are not defined
with reference to the required timing of the flow.
• Great difficulties exist while taking e-flows requirements
into water resources administration, especially due to
over-allocation and high demands for water

11. ACEDP
River
Health
and
Environmental
Flow
in
China
Project
(RHEFC)
 River health assessment and environmental flow
methodologies developed under RHEFC is of great help to
China’s practice
 RHEFC is highly relevant to China in the identification of
suitable river health indicators and preparation of river health
report cards
 Field works, training and workshops have improved the
capacity building of Chinese organisations involved. Impacts
have been observed beyond the scope of RHEFC.

12. Next Steps for Bilateral Cooperation
Extension proposal of RHEFC was approved by ACEFP on
Feb. 22, 2011.
 Extension will reinforce the approached already promoted
during the current project
 Extension will help MWR test national river health guidelines,
including identification of indicators and formulation of
standards

13. Next Steps for Bilateral Cooperation
 Extension will provide advice and policy recommendations
on e-flows, water allocation and basin planning methods based
on international reviews.
 Extension will further strengthen capacity building of Chinese
sides through training, workshops, publication and
dissemination.

14. Next Steps for Bilateral Cooperation
 MWR and Queensland Department of Environment and Resource
Management are preparing a MOU. International Economic and
Technical Cooperation and Exchange Centre and International Water
Centre will be responsible for implementation.
 The purpose of this MOU is:
(i) to continue previous collaborations
(ii) to facilitate the long-term sharing of knowledge and expertise
in relation to the sustainable management of water resources
(iii) to collaborate across areas of education and training, applied
research, and targeted project design and implementation
 River health and e-flows are identified as two of the priority topics.

15. Thanks