Construction and Application of a Seasonal River Health Evaluation System in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

Abstract

Addressing the inadequacy of theoretical frameworks and evaluation indicators for assessing the health of seasonal rivers in arid and semi-arid regions, this study aims to enrich the theoretical foundation for the management and ecological restoration of seasonal river systems. By selecting seven indicators from three aspects: hydrology, habitat, and social services, a seasonal river health assessment indicator system was constructed for the Tabu River basin. The weights of the indicators were determined using the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method, and a classification standard for seasonal river health was established. The health status of the Tabu River in 2021 was evaluated accordingly. The results revealed that the upstream, midstream, and downstream reaches of the Tabu River were categorized as healthy, sub-healthy, and diseased, respectively, with poor hydrological conditions being the primary concern. The satisfaction level of ecological flow within the basin was low, accompanied by deep groundwater levels and water scarcity issues, aligning with the actual situation. This indicator system effectively reflects the true state of seasonal river ecosystems. Based on the evaluation results, measures such as establishing ecological water storage projects and adjusting agricultural planting structures were proposed to alleviate the impacts caused by water scarcity. Additionally, implementing river and lake management systems, water resource protection measures, and water-saving technologies can directly regulate the pressures imposed on rivers by human socio-economic activities, thus alleviating regional water resource shortages and promoting the health of rivers and regional water resources. These findings provide scientific decision-making support for the management of seasonal river basins and the maintenance of river health.