Evaluation of Economic and Hydrologic Impacts of Unified Water Flow Regulation in the Yellow River Basin

Unified water flow regulation has been implemented in the Yellow River, Hei River and Tarim River in China since 1999 as a result of institutional reforms. It has been one of the most important water resources management practices in China during recent years and has generated significant impacts. Based on the data of such an experiment in the Yellow River during 1999 to 2004, a “with-without” scenario analysis method is employed in the paper to evaluate the economic and hydrological impacts of regulation through a holistic model coupling economic water use and hydrologic cycle applied to the study basin. The results show that about 2.5% of GDP was increased every year and the Flow Cutoff Events were avoided as a result of the unified water flow regulation.