Response to environmental flows in the Lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China: An ecological interpretation of water-table dynamics
- 作者：P. Hou ; R.J.S Beeton ; R.W. Carter ; X.G. Dong ; X. Li
- 关键词：Environmental flow ; Water-table dynamics ; Ecological restoration ; Tarim River ; China
- 刊名：Journal of Environmental Management
- 出版年：2007
- 期刊代码：82_03014797
- 类别：env
- 出版时间：June 2007
- 卷：83
- 期：4
- 页码：383-391
- 文件大小：729 K
摘要
Increased water-dependent development and utilization have led to significant environmental and hydrological degradation of the Tarim River in western China and its dependent ecosystems. Between the 1950s and 1970s, 350 km of the lower reaches were drained and between 1960 and 1980 the water-table fell from between −2 and −3 m to between −8 and −10 m. Subsequently, riparian ecosystems were seriously degraded. In 2000, the Chinese government launched a program to restore the lower reaches of the river. Four environmental flows of 1034×106 m3 were released from 2000 to 2002. This paper interprets and discusses the ecological significance of changes following the releases and identifies the relationship between water-table dynamics and vegetation responses. Short-term objectives for river restoration are proposed with possible monitoring parameters suggested.