Ecological Water Rights of the Bosten Lake Wetlands in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

This paper took the Bosten Lake wetlands as the research object. From the perspective of actual water consumption, the minimum, suitable, and maximum ecological water demand were calculated. It was found that: 1) in a moderate year (P = 50%), the minimum, suitable and maximum ecological water demand was 105,336.5 × 104 m3, 116,835.3 × 104 m3 and 126,051.9 × 104 m3, respectively; 2) in a general dry year (P = 75%), the minimum, suitable and maximum ecological water demand was 102,384.8 × 104 m3, 113,633.5 × 104 m3 and 122,649.6 × 104 m3, respectively; and 3) in a special dry year (P = 95%), the minimum, suitable, and maximum ecological water demand was 98,822.4 × 104 m3, 109,667 × 104 m3 and 118,359.1 × 104 m3, respectively. The values of ecological water demand of the Bosten Lake wetlands gradually decreased from a moderate year to a special dry year. The results showed that the amount of ecological initial water rights of the Bosten Lake wetlands was 190,022 × 104 m3 in a moderate year, 165,990 × 104 m3 in a general dry year and 133,199 × 104 m3 in a special dry year. All the ecological initial water rights with different guarantee rates were larger than the suitable ecological water demand with the same guarantee rates.