Utilization Efficiency Of Water Resources Research Articles

Assessment of Water Resource Utilization and Analysis of Driving Factors in Zhoushan City Based on Water Footprint Theory and LMDI Model

Accurately analyzing the water system’s status in a region is crucial for mitigating water resource constraints on the development of island areas. This study centers on Zhoushan, an archipelago city, and employs the water footprint theory (WFT) and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) model to scrutinize the evolution of water footprints from 2010 to 2020. It also dissects the impacts of economic, technological, and population factors on these changes. The findings are as follows: From 2010 to 2020, Zhoushan’s total water footprint has remained relatively stable, but its structure is imbalanced, indicating an unhealthy development. The agricultural water footprint dominates, though its proportion has steadily declined from 64% to 28%, while the imported water footprint has significantly increased from 2% to 29%. The skewed distribution of internal and external water consumption contributes to this imbalance, with internal water use accounting for a staggering 86.43%. The ecological security of water resources appears bleak, with average water scarcity and pressure indices reaching 0.42 and 0.41, respectively, indicating an overloaded state of water resources. Despite a 144.50% growth in water footprint efficiency from 2010 to 2020, the average water resource sustainability index merely stands at 0.531, and its sustainability remains precarious. The LMDI model results unveil that technological factors are the primary negative driving factors, contributing to 47.06% of the changes in Zhoushan’s water resource utilization. Conversely, economic and population factors play positive roles, contributing 42.29% and 10.65%, respectively. Therefore, in the course of development, there should be a focus on promoting water-saving tec-nologies, and continuously enhancing the efficiency of water resource utilization. Simultaneously, attention should be given to the development of the tertiary sector and the water resource pressure resulting from the mobile population, aiming to achieve sustainable water resource utilization and further ensure the ecological security of Zhoushan City.

Analysis model of flood spatiotemporal change characteristics based on k-means clustering algorithm

<p>In order to analyze the spatiotemporal change characteristics of regional flood disaster, analyze the main change characteristics and hydrological response of precipitation distribution in Guangxi, and improve the comprehensive utilization efficiency of water resources, this paper introduces the k-means clustering algorithm to design an analysis model of spatiotemporal change characteristics of flood disaster. First of all, obtain the flood data in Guangxi and the observation data of the national meteorological station within 5 km, complete the collection of the basic data of mountain flood disasters. Based on the collected data, an analysis was conducted on the spatial and temporal distribution of flash floods in the Guangxi region. Secondly, the Kriging spatial interpolation method was used to analyze the spatial distribution of precipitation data in Guangxi. The Mann-Kendall trend test was then employed to examine the trend of precipitation-related statistical parameters over time. Additionally, wavelet theory was applied to analyze the time series of annual precipitation and precipitation with different durations in Guangxi. Subsequently, the k-means clustering algorithm was introduced to construct a model for analyzing the spatiotemporal characteristics of flood changes, determining the concentration and duration of precipitation in different years in the region. Finally, analyze the spatiotemporal change characteristics of flood events in different seasons under various indicators, and realize the analysis of flood spatiotemporal change characteristics. The research results indicate that the Frank Copula function fits the best correlation between annual precipitation and temperature, and can better characterize the correlation between the two. The Frank Copula function has the best fitting effect on the correlation between precipitation and temperature in autumn in Guilin, summer in Nanning, and summer and winter in Beihai. In Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the annual precipitation shows a gradually decreasing trend, especially at R and P stations. In summary, the Frank Copula function can effectively characterize the correlation and trend of precipitation and temperature in different seasons and regions of Guangxi.</p>

旱作条件下大豆玉米复合种植系统水分利用特征和生产力的比较研究

Quantitative investigation of the utilization characteristics of precipitation resources and the production capacity of the intercropping production system under the soybean maize intercropping mode in northern China is of great significance for improving the resource utilization rate of dryland agriculture and regional sustainable development. This study adopted a completely randomized block design, and six planting modes were set up: soybean monoculture, maize monoculture, and four soybean maize intercropping modes. Plant height and grain yield data were observed, and precipitation resource utilization efficiency was calculated. Based on the FAO-56 recommended crop coefficients, the crop coefficients were corrected according to the actual growth of crops in the experimental area; combined with meteorological data, the crop water demand under different planting modes was estimated based on the Penman-Monteith principle. The results showed that crops' daily growth water demand under different planting modes was generally deficient in water in the early and middle stages of growth, and surplus in the later stages. Compared with the monoculture mode, there were significant differences in precipitation resource utilization efficiency under different intercropping modes (P < 0.05), with soybeans reduced by 67.50% ~ 89.56%, and corn reduced by 43.99% ~ 61.05%. Based on the semi-humid and semi-arid area of the eastern Loess Plateau, an appropriate irrigation system needs to be designated for soybean and corn intercropping systems in the early and middle stages of crop growth. Under a certain proportion of water resource supply, different modes have different water resource utilization efficiency and final production capacity for the intercropping system.

Analysis of runoff variations in an arid catchment based on multi-model ensemble- a case study in the Tarim River Basin in Central Asia

Runoff variation is of significant importance to the current and future water availability of a region, particularly in arid regions, and plays a crucial role in economic and social development. The Tarim River Basin, spanning an area of approximately 102 × 104 km2, is the largest inland river basin in China. Due to the basin’s extremely dry climate, water shortage is the most critical natural factor restricting socio-economic development in the region. This study focuses on analyzing the historical and future runoff changes of the four headstreams (the Kaidu, Aksu, Yarkand, and Hotan rivers) in the Tarim River Basin with historical observations and multiple-model projections. The results indicate that the runoff of the Tarim’s four headstreams showed an increasing trend during 1957–2022, with a remarkable increment of 40.70 × 108 m3, or 18% in percentage. Rising temperatures and precipitation are the main reasons for the runoff’s increase. Higher temperature accelerates the melting of glaciers, leading to enhanced recharge of meltwater, while more precipitation also boosts the increase in river runoff. Based on the modelling results from the extended SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), the runoff in the Kaidu, Aksu, Yarkand, and Hotan rivers will remain at a high level in the near future (−2035), with an average increase of 3.2%–7.55%. In the mid 21st century (2036–2065), the runoff of the Yarkand and Hotan River originated from the Kunlun and Karakoram mountains is expected to continue increasing by around 6.25%–15.2%. Under SSP126, the tipping point of glacier melt runoff in the basin may happen by 2058, while under SSP370 and SSP585 scenarios, it may be around 2080. The timing of peak water aligns with projections in the mountainous Asia, but is later compared to the tropical Andes, Western Canada, and the Swiss Alps, whose peak water has already been reached. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the allocation and efficient utilization of water resources in the Tarim River Basin and offer valuable insights into the forthcoming runoff changes in mountainous regions.

A Study on the Carrying Capacity of Water Resources Utilizing the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Model—Illustrated by a Case from Guantao County

The efficient utilization of water resources is the key to ensuring sustainable development. Due to the complex relationship between resource utilization and economy and the environment, there are positive societal effects from a scientific and precise assessment of the carrying capacity of water supplies. This study aims to investigate the uncertainty associated with the selection of evaluation parameters in assessing the carrying capacity of water resources. To achieve this, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is adopted, and two distinct weighting methods, namely hierarchical analysis and entropy weighting, are applied to analyze the sources of uncertainty in the evaluation results under the framework of the established evaluation indicators. Aiming at the traditional water resources carrying capacity, evaluation indexes are redundant and the correlation is not very close. Thus, the sensitivity analysis method based on the weights of the indexes is proposed to eliminate the indexes that have the greatest impact in order to decrease the uncertainty of the evaluation results. The results indicate that the correlationship coefficient of the comprehensive evaluation results obtained through the two weighting ways is 0.4542, which is not a large correlation, so the uncertainty of the assignment of indicator weights exists. The calculation of the sensitivity index shows that the weights of the three indicators of the utilization ratio of water resources development, water consumption per unit of GDP and per capita water resources are the most sensitive, which are 40.62%, 27.58%, and 23.61%, respectively, and these are the key influencing factors. This demonstrates that improving the accuracy of the primary control indices and the quality control of weight assignment can assist with lowering the error of the carrying capacity assessment of water resources and also point the fuzzy evaluation model in the right direction.

Modeling of summer maize transpiration considering morphogenesis

Plant transpiration research is the foundation for improving the efficiency of agricultural water resource utilization and ensuring food production safety. It is an important content of agricultural production and water resource utilization research. However, spatial heterogeneities of leaf size and positions affect the estimation of transpiration. In this study, summer maize on the North China Plain was taken as the research object. Based on the measured data of the photosynthetic apparatus, morphogenesis and stem flow meter, the transpiration variation rule of summer maize leaves was analyzed, and the spatial distribution model of photosynthetically active radiation based on plant morphogenesis was constructed. Considering the spatial heterogeneities of leaf size and positions, the individual-plant scale transpiration model was upgraded. The reliability of transpiration model at individual plant scale was verified. The results showed that: i) the transpiration rate of leaves with different leaf positions, positive and negative leaves at the same leaf position and different parts of the same leaf were significantly different. ii) Based on the measured data, the structure of summer maize with spatial coordinates was obtained, and a calculation model for solar radiation reaching the top of the plants and a calculation model for photosynthetically active radiation reaching the surface of the leaves were constructed. Based on the different absorption, reflection, and transmission of radiation by summer maize leaves, the photosynthetically active radiation of each part of the leaves was characterized. iii) A plant transpiration model was constructed by combining the leaf panel transpiration model with the spatial distribution model of photosynthetically active radiation in summer maize plants, and, the determination coefficients between the simulated and the measured values of the individual plant scale transpiration rate were all above 0.95, the consistency index was close to 1.0, and the RMSE was in range of 12.41–16.64 g h−1. The individual plant transpiration obtained after simulated accumulation could meet the simulation accuracy. The results achieved the scale improvement of the leaf transpiration to individual plant transpiration.

Retracted: Evaluation of Water Resource Utilization Efficiency in Provincial Areas of China Based on the Unexpected Output SBM Model

Retracted: Evaluation of Water Resource Utilization Efficiency in Provincial Areas of China Based on the Unexpected Output SBM Model

Exploring a novel reservoir drawdown operation framework for boosting synergies of hydropower generation and drought defense

The seasonal operation of drought-limited water level (DLWL) can efficiently boost the synergies of hydropower production and drought defense. This study proposes a seasonal DLWL operation framework for mimicking reservoir drawdown operation to improve hydropower output and mitigate drought risk. Firstly, three statistical analysis methods were used to divide the drought season into three segments. And then, the simulation model of seasonal DLWL operation was configured to evaluate the effect of reservoir drawdown operation on risk and benefits. Lastly, the combined distance-based assessment method was employed to identify the best scheme of seasonal DLWL operation. The Three Gorges Reservoir sited in the Yangtze River of China constitutes the case study. The results suggested that the proposed framework could facilitate reservoir drawdown operation to achieve 2346.95 million kW·h (7.0% improvement) in annual hydroelectricity production and 3.3% improvement in annual utilization efficiency of water resources, while could reduce 22.2% in drought risk during the dry year, compared with the annual DLWL operation scheme. This study not only can provide scientific and technical support for reservoir drawdown operation benefiting synergies of hydropower generation and drought defense but also can suggest policymakers with various favorable strategies to experience potential risks and benefits of seasonal DLWL operation in the interest of sustainable hydropower development.

Analysis of the Water Resource Carrying Capacity in Guyuan City

To assess the water resource carrying capacity of Guyuan City, an analysis was conducted using the load index method, principal component analysis, and ecological water footprint method. A comprehensive analysis was carried out using these three methods to evaluate the current state of water resource carrying capacity in Guyuan City. The results indicate that the water resource carrying capacity in Guyuan City is mainly influenced by economic development factors, water supply–demand balance factors, and natural factors. During the period from 2002 to 2016, the water resource carrying capacity fluctuated in response to changes in the total water resources. However, from 2016 to 2021, it exhibited an increasing trend due to improvements in water resource utilization efficiency and effective water conservation measures. However, the water resource carrying capacity remains at a relatively low level, and it has consistently been in an overloaded state, with the development and utilization of water resources approaching their limits. Water scarcity in Guyuan City is a pressing concern, characterized by severe limitations on its potential for development and utilization. The persistent supply–demand imbalance is anticipated to impede the region’s pursuit of high-quality economic development in the foreseeable future.

Spatial characteristics of hydrochemistry and stable isotopes in river and groundwater, and runoff components in the Shule River Basin, Northeastern of Tibet Plateau

Water resources play a crucial role in constraining the high-quality development of the arid, necessitating an in-depth investigation and understanding of hydrological processes, hydrochemical characteristics, and their influencing factors amidst climate change. This study meticulously examined and analyzed the hydrochemistry and stable isotope composition (δ18O and δD) of river and groundwater within the Shule River Basin (SRB). Results showed that both river (mean: 8.01) and groundwater (mean: 7.92) had alkaline pH values, while average total dissolved solids were measured at 709.25 mg/L in river and 861.88 mg/L in groundwater, indicating predominance of fresh water sources. HCO3−, SO42−, Na+ and Ca2+ were the most abundant ions, influenced by evaporation-crystallization processes and rock weathering. The dominated hydrochemical facies in both river and groundwater were Ca–HCO3 type in the upper (UR) and the middle reaches (MR), while Ca–Mg–Cl type in the lower reaches (LR). The local meteoric water line (LMWL) was defined as δD = 8.01δ18O + 18.48 (R2 = 0.98, n = 163; P < 0 0.001). The more negative δ18O and δD values in river and groundwater were plotted nearby and lower right of the LMWL, implying that the important recharge source of those waters is from precipitation. The relationship between river δ18O and elevation showed an increase of 0.14‰/100 m in the UR, but a negative correlation with a rate of −0.47‰/100 m in the MR and LR. Precipitation, groundwater, baseflow and meltwater accounted for 62.5%, 19.8%, 11.9% and 5.8% of the UR river, respectively, during the observed period, according to the end-member mixing analysis. These runoff components displayed distinct seasonal variations, primarily driven by precipitation during the early and groundwater/baseflow during the rapid and end-stage ablation periods. The observed alterations in hydrological elements present both opportunities and challenges for water resource management across the SRB, and adaptive measures have been proposed based on our study. These findings provide valuable insights into efficient utilization of water resources from water chemistry and environmental isotopes.

Water resource utilization efficiency and driving factors in northern Anhui (China) based on the DEA-Malmquist model

Abstract Based on the DEA-Malmquist method, this study analyzes water resource utilization efficiency in six cities of the northern Anhui region. The input indicators covered per capita water resources, industrial water consumption, agricultural water consumption, domestic water consumption, fixed assets investment, and number of employees. The output indicator was per capita GDP of each city. The findings of the study revealed that only Huaibei achieved efficiency according to the DEA model, while the other cities in the northern Anhui region did not exhibit the same level of efficiency. The overall water resource utilization efficiency in the region was low, with significant variations among the cities (p ≤ 0.05; ANOVA test). The order of water resource utilization efficiency from high to low was Huaibei, Huainan, Bengbu, Bozhou, Suzhou, and Fuyang. An analysis of investment redundancy revealed that a large number of employees and an unreasonable water use structure were key factors that restricted the efficiency of water resource utilization in the region. The overall TFP index of water resource utilization efficiency in the region showed an upward trend, with a value of 1.02. By addressing them, decision-makers can work toward promoting sustainable economic development and effective water resource management in the region.

Dynamic Monitoring of Surface Water Bodies and Their Influencing Factors in the Yellow River Basin

Surface water bodies exhibit dynamic characteristics, undergoing variations in size, shape, and flow patterns over time due to numerous natural and human factors. The monitoring of spatial-temporal changes in surface water bodies is crucial for the sustainable development and efficient utilization of water resources. In this study, Landsat series images on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, along with the HydroLAKES and China Reservoir datasets, were utilized to establish an extraction process for surface water bodies from 1986 to 2021 in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). The study aims to investigate the dynamics of surface water bodies and the driving factors within the YRB. The findings reveal an overall expansion tendency of surface water bodies in the YRB between 1986 and 2021. In the YRB, the total area of surface water bodies, natural lakes, and artificial reservoirs increased by 2983.8 km2 (40.4%), 281.1 km2 (11.5%), and 1017.6 km2 (101.7%), respectively. A total of 102 natural lakes expanded, while 23 shrank. Regarding artificial reservoirs, 204 expanded, and 77 shrank. The factors that contributed most to the increase in the surface water bodies were increasing precipitation and reservoir construction, whose contribution rates could reach 47% and 32.6%, respectively. Additionally, the rising temperatures melted permafrost, ice, and snow, positively correlating with water expansion in the upper reaches of the YRB, particularly natural lakes.

Developing a multi-objective simulation-optimization model for ecological water conveyance in arid inland river basins

Study regionMiddle and lower reaches of Tarim River, southwestern of Xinjiang Province, China. Study focusEcological water conveyance is an important measure to protect the fragile ecosystem of inland rivers in arid areas. This paper attempted to present a integrated model for optimal ecological water conveyance scheme (EWCS). In this model, the impact of the duration of water conveyance and the water allocation of each channel on the groundwater level was considered. The optimized ecological water conveyance scheme can simultaneously maximize groundwater level rise value (GLRV) and minimize ecological water conveyance volume (EWCV). New hydrological insights for the regionAn simulation-optimization model was proposed based on MODFLOW model, Kriging surrogate model and NSGA-II. The study obtained the Pareto frontiers of EWCS in three typical years (dry, normal and wet), and made decisions using the TOPISIS-Entropy method. The scenario comparison results indicated that the optimized EWCS requires less EWCV than the existing one when achieving the same GLRV, proving that the optimized EWCS has higher water resource utilization efficiency. This simulation-optimization model fills the research gap of EWCS in arid inland river basins and provides scientific guidance for government management.

Optimizing the Flood Limit Water Level of Reservoirs in Sediment-Laden Rivers under Changing Water and Sediment Conditions: A Case Study of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir

Optimizing the flood limit water level (FLWL) of reservoirs in sediment-laden rivers under changing water and sediment conditions is an important research topic that could improve comprehensive utilization benefits. Because reservoir operation has multiple objectives in sediment-laden rivers, this study established a water–sediment mathematical model, a comprehensive benefit evaluation model, and an evaluation index system. Taking the Xiaolangdi Reservoir of the Yellow River as an example, the operation mode of the FLWL under changing water and sediment conditions was studied. Under the scenarios of incoming sediment amounts of 300–800 million tons, when using the operation mode of gradually raising the FLWL, the sediment retention period was 4–13 years longer; the lower average annual siltation of the downstream channel and minimum bank-full discharge of the downstream channel after 50 years was larger by 150–260 m3/s than the operation mode of raising the FLWL at one time. However, with enhanced benefits of sediment blocking and siltation reduction, other benefits such as water resources supply, hydropower generation, and ecological improvement are reduced. The average annual number of days that do not meet the downstream water resources supply requirements, irrigation, and ecological improvement was increased by 0.64–2.16 days, and 91–197 million kW·h reduced average annual hydropower generation. The critical amount of incoming sediment was 350 million for conversion between the two FLWL operation modes, and it will increase to 450 million tons if the incoming runoff of the Yellow River increases by 20%. After constructing the Guxian Reservoir in the middle of the Yellow River, the critical amount of incoming sediment will increase to 600 million tons. This study is of great significance for improving the utilization efficiency of water resources and promoting the socio-economic development of river basins.

Regional differences and dynamic evolution of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China.

Improving water resources utilization efficiency is conducive to achieving the sustainable development of water resources. It is essential to explore the regional differences and dynamic evolution of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China to promote high-quality development of agriculture. In this study, based on the unexpected output, we build a super slack-based measure model to measure agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China's provinces from 2007 to 2018. In addition, we use the Dagum Gini coefficient to analyze the source of regional differences. Finally, we construct the distributed dynamics model to explore the distribution of the dynamic evolution trend of China's agricultural water resources utilization efficiency. The results reveal that regional difference is the main source of the overall difference in agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China. Spatial imbalance exists in the development of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China. The agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in various provinces and regions of China is relatively stable, having the characteristics of club convergence. The probability of maintaining the initial state is high, and the internal mobility is low. However, with time, the degree of club convergence decreases.

Evaluation of agricultural wetland utilization and landscape design

Abstract Water is an important component of agricultural wetlands, and human activities have disrupted the water cycle and its related functions, leading to problems such as water scarcity, water pollution, and wetland degradation. As an important water source conservation area and ecosystem, agricultural wetlands not only help maintain the sustainable use of water resources but also help improve the efficiency and quality of agricultural production. This article first introduces the water-centered utilization of agricultural wetlands, and then proposes the challenges and problems faced by agricultural wetland water resources management, focusing on the utilization and protection of water resources. Through research and analysis, the utilization efficiency of Xixi Wetland water resources was analyzed, and the importance of water resource protection and landscape design was analyzed using the Hangzhou Xixi Wetland as an example. This article proposed corresponding landscape design strategies for different utilization methods and analyzed the water resource utilization efficiency of the Xixi Wetland in the past decade through research. Under scientific management, the water resource utilization efficiency increased by 21% compared to 10 years ago. This article focused on ‘water’ and explored the utilization and landscape design of agricultural wetlands.

Optimisation of an integrated water resources management system for the Yellow River based on numerical simulation

Abstract With the development of digital information technology, the requirements for information technology in the management of the Yellow River are gradually increasing, and the application of information technology in the various operations of the Yellow River system is becoming more and more extensive. This paper firstly attempts to conduct an integrated study of the Yellow River water resources management system, integrating various business systems for water resources management and realizing the sharing of resources and information. Secondly, through numerical simulation, a numerical prediction model of water resources based on coupled atmosphere-hydrology-sediment environment and a numerical simulation system of hydrology-sediment is constructed to optimize the system of integrated water resources information and management of the Yellow River basin. Finally, the system is applied to the Yellow River basin, and its rationality is tested. The results show that in the dynamic water resources deployment experiment, the water resources utilization efficiency is 87.0%, which is 8.8% more efficient compared to the water resources system deployment before optimization, and the joint probability constraint and water resources utilization efficiency in the case are 0.01 and 79.6% respectively. In this paper, the system optimization of the integrated water resources management system of the Yellow River based on numerical simulation has improved the accuracy and real-time performance of water resources management, as well as the efficiency of water resources utilization, completing the integration and optimization of the integrated water resources management system of the Yellow River.

Measurement of Green Water Resource Utilization Efficiency for Carbon Neutrality: A Multiple Water Use Sectoral Perspective Considering Carbon Emission

Green and high-efficiency water resource utilization patterns hold paramount importance in promoting sustainable economic and social development, as well as in attaining the goal of carbon neutrality. Most research on water utilization efficiency have taken a general perspective to quantify it, neglecting independent relationships and green effects among water use sectors. This study proposed an integrated measurement model of green water resource utilization efficiency (GWRUE), combined with the carbon dioxide emission equivalent analysis method of water resource behaviors, and constructed an input–output indicator system of GWRUE from four dimensions: domestic, industrial, agricultural, and ecological water. The aim is to achieve the measurement of GWRUE towards carbon neutrality. In this paper, 18 cities in Henan Province were used as instances to carry out the study. The results show that (1) The CO2 emission equivalent from multiple water use sectors in Henan Province showed a tendency of fluctuating reduction during the study period, from a peak of 21,090,100 tons in 2012 to a low of 12,351,900 tons in 2021, with large spatial variations, and the CO2 emission effect existed in most cities, with Zhengzhou being the highest. (2) The GWRUE of domestic, industrial, and agricultural water in Henan Province and 18 cities exhibited an overall upward trend, while that of ecological water presented a downward trend and was at the lowest level among the four sectors. (3) Consolidated GWRUE in Henan Province tended to decrease and then increase; its value was 0.512 in 2011, 0.448 in 2017, and 0.586 in 2021, and most of its cities were at a Medium level. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical and practical basis for improving the level of green and efficient utilization of water resources, as well as offer references for relevant water use sectors to formulate CO2 emission reduction policies.

The Relationship between Water Resources Use Efficiency and Scientific and Technological Innovation Level: Case Study of Yangtze River Basin in China

The Yangtze River Basin's water resource utilization efficiency (WUE) and scientific and technological innovation level (STI) are closely connected, and the comprehension of these relationships will help to improve WUE and promote local economic growth and conservation of water. This study uses 19 provinces and regions along the Yangtze River's mainstream from 2009 to 2019 as its research objects and uses a Vector Auto Regression (VAR) model to quantitatively evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the two subsystems of WUE and STI. The findings show that: (1) Both the WUE and STI in the Yangtze River Basin showed an upward trend during the study period, but the STI effectively lagged behind the WUE; (2) The CCD of the two subsystems generally showed an upward trend, and the CCD of each province was improved to varying degrees, but the majority of regions did not develop a high-quality coordination stage; (3) The CCD of the two systems displayed apparent positive spatial autocorrelation in the spatial correlation pattern, and there were only two types: high-high (H-H) urbanization areas and low-low (L-L) urbanization areas; (4) The STI showed no obvious response to the impact of the WUE, while the WUE responded greatly to the STI, and both of them were highly dependent on themselves. Optimizing their interaction mechanisms should be the primary focus of high-quality development in the basin of the Yangtze River in the future. These results give the government an empirical basis to enhance the WUE and promote regional sustainable development.

Natural Vegetation Area Design in an Arid Region Based on Water Resource Carrying Capacity—Taking Minqin County as an Example

Water resource management and natural vegetation distribution status are important for the sustainable development of agricultural, ecological and socio-economic systems in arid areas, and the carrying area of vegetation is limited by the established water resources. This study proposed the concept of natural vegetation area design in arid areas based on water resource design carrying capacity and took Minqin County belonging to a typical inland arid area as an example and socio-economic water consumption, ecological water consumption and water resource utilization efficiency in the study area as the main selected factors as well as reference indicators. By calculating the water ecological footprint, water resource carrying and water resource ecological pressure index of the main natural vegetation design area in Minqin County in 2017, we analyzed and evaluated its water resource carrying status and predicted the natural vegetation areas in 2025. The results showed that there was a large gap (the increase was 13.25–9.29%) between the actual area of various types of natural vegetation in 2017 and that in 2025. The water resource utilization was more effective in various types of natural vegetation in Minqin County under the stable development model, and the water ecological deficit was approaching 0, but the utilization of forest trees other than shrubs and herbaceous plants was in an insecure state, and the water ecological deficit was less than 0. The water resource allocation schemes under the restoration model and the optimization model were safer ecological development models for natural vegetation in Minqin County, which was in a state of water-ecological surplus, and the water-ecological surplus value was greater than 0. Thus, it could be seen that coordinating the water resource supply among various types of natural vegetation in an arid area was a preferred strategy to ensure the sustainable development of regional ecology as well as an effective countermeasure to improve the water use efficiency of natural vegetation in the county to a certain extent. This study aimed to evaluate the carrying capacity of a natural vegetation area and the water pressure index under certain water supply conditions, which could provide a reasonable theoretical reference for water resource management in arid areas.