This document summarizes China's research program on river health. It discusses current research works and results from six major river basins. Key issues like establishing reference conditions for catchment and river health are also covered. Steps to assess river health include establishing reference conditions, developing conceptual models, identifying stressors and indicators, sampling, quantification, setting targets and thresholds, and connecting assessment to management. Criteria and a assessment method are provided to classify catchments and rivers as class A through F based on their ecosystem health conditions.

1. 中澳环境发展项目 ACEDP
中国河流健康研究进展
China’s Research program on River Health
席北斗 Dr. Xi Beidou
张 远 Dr. ZHANG YUAN
Dr. Xiaodong Qu
Chinese Research Academy of
Environmental Sciences (CRAES)

2. 汇报内容 Outline
1. 现在研究工作和结果
Current research and results
2. 关注问题
Key issues for discussion
3. 结论
Conclusions

3. 1 现在研究工作和结果
Current works and Results

4. 1、River health is very important for Water Environment Improvement
in China.
河流生态系统健康是中华民族生存和文明传承的基石。
2、 Six main river basins were considered in Chinese National key
special project “water pollution control and treatment” such as
Songhuajiang, Liaohe, Haihe, Huaihe, Dongjiang, south-to-north water
division project, and other special rivers.
“河流”主题“十一五”期间共设置了6个项目：松花江、辽河、海河、淮河、
东江、南水北调、特殊类型河流
3、During the 12th five plan period (2011-2015), the centre gov. will
provide 1.5 billion RMB to support the river projects
This will be the foundation of river ecosystem restoration
河流主题“十二五”科研经费15.35亿元，工程投资超过150.00亿元。

5. Study main Pilot River basins in China
松花江流域
辽河流域 Sohuajiang
Liaoriver basin basin
黑河
Heihe river
basin
海河流域
洱海 Hairiver
Erhai Lake Basin
淮河流域
滇池 Huairiver
Dianchi 东江 Basin
Lake Dongjian
g river 巢湖
basin Chao lake

6. Pilot study to asses river health in the Taizi River, Liao River Basin
North east of China-The fifth biggest watershed in China
Main threatens (面临的胁迫）
Farmland
Urbanization
• Water resource conflict between the upper and
middle part as consequence of construction of the
Guanyinge Reservoir
• Sand extraction has caused habitat destruction

7. Steps to Assess River Health
（河流健康评估的主要程序）
1. Establish reference health conditions of catchment and river
确定所在流域的健康河流参照状态
2. Classification and Construction of conceptual models
（分类并 建立概念模型）
3. Identification of stressors and indicators（辨识驱动因素和指标）
4. Sampling procedures（样品分析程序）
5. Quantification - stressors & indicators（确定驱动因素和指标）
6. Target and threshold setting（目标和临界值确定）
7. Scoring for Assessment and reporting（评价报告打分）
8. Connecting to the management（用于管理）

8. 2.关注的内容
Key points for discussion

9. Establish reference health
conditions of catchment and
river is very important

10. Approaches to Establishing Reference Conditions for
Catchment and River health
候选参照河流确定健康河流的参照状态法
参照状态法(reference river approach) ：根据参照河流标准全流域筛选，
要求流域内参照河流占全体河流10%以上，进行采样和历史数据统计
分析，取上25%点位对应状态作为健康河流参照状态，参照河流选择标
准见后面!
(a)
参照河流
Reference rivers
上25个百分点
Upper 25th
percentile
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80

11. Establish reference conditions Criteria for Catchment and
River Candidate Reference Sites候选参照河流的标准
Indicator指标
!
conditions
High
! low
! high
! low
!
Natural vegetation cover, i.e., > 65% > 50% Riparian areas in catchment (% of stream
! ! > 60%! >
forest/grassland/wetlan length)生态岸带在流域中的%（ 6
d自然植被如森林、 占河岸长度）! 0
草地、湿地（流域 %
中%）
Minimum Riparian width (m) > 50 m > 50 m Minimum overall habitat score (% of
! ! > 70%! >
最小的岸带宽度! maximum)最小全部栖息地得分! 7
0
%
Agriculture农业 (% in < 20% < 30% Urban land城市用地(% in catchment)
! ! <15%! <15%
!
catchment)
Pesticide impacts none! none! Channel alteration in catchment none! none
!
农药等有毒有害物影响 河道人工变道集约化养殖（围网养殖）
!
Point source discharges (% of <5%! 5%! Net loss or degradation of wetlands(% in <15%! <15%
!
flow at 7Q10) catchment)
点源排放（占流量的%）! 湿地消失或破坏率

12. 参照河流确定的综合评价方法
(Assessment method for reference Catchment and River )
A类:流域和河流生态完整性好(Excellent conditions meet all set
原始状态! ecosystem health, natural undisturbed Watershed and River
Natural conditions
B类:优良的流域和河流状态(Good Conditions almost meet all set
ecosystem health
健康
生物状态! 可持续 C类:临界的流域和河流状态Bottom
流域适宜
Identify conditions
Health line conditions, criteria threshold
状态! values
阈值criteria threshold D类:低于临界的流域和河流状态（ Modified :
values Conditions meet some of the set ecosystem
不健康 health, but most are impacted
E类:差的流域和河流状态Poor conditions are
非可持续
No living unlikely to meet ecosystem health
F类:极差的流域和河流状态!
人为干扰! Seriously (Bad conditions do not meet any
无干扰! impacted ecosystem health
disturbed by
No disturbed human 干扰严重!
采用基于集对分析的模糊综合评价模型（SPA-FCE）进行综合评价，确定流域和河流所处状态。 !

13. Indicator and criteria for Catchment
and River A,B,C,D,E,F Sites
Indicator and criteria for Candidate Reference Sites
level Natural Minimum Agriculture (% Point source Minimum Urban land
vegetation bank zone in catchment) discharges (% of overall (% in
（%） width (m) flow at 7Q10) habitat catchment)
score (% of
maximum)
A(Superior ) 80% 50m ＜10% 0 ＞90% 0
B (least 65% 50m ＜20% ＜5% ＞70% ＜15%
impacted )
C (baseline) 50% 50m ＜30% ＜5% ＞70% ＜15%
D (modified) 40% 30m ＜40% ＜10% ＞60% ＜20%
E (poor) 30% 20m ＜50% ＜10% ＞50% ＜30%
F (bad) 20% 10m ＜70% ＜10% ＞40% ＜30%

14. 3.结论 Conclusions

15. Based on the monitoring data of rivers in the
different catchment , reference conditions of
catchment River health can be established by
distribution approach( for all seasons, each
season, and each water period)

16. Thanks !