ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with dilemmas in water systems development in one of the regions under severe water stress—the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in Northern China. Water shortages constitute the most important constraint for ecological and socioeconomic development in the YRB. The majority of the river basin is located in arid and semi-arid climate areas. To alleviate the emerging water crisis in river basins, it is crucial to stimulate the development of integrated water resources management approaches and to introduce and develop technologies that could improve the performance of water systems. In the 1960s, the priorities of water management were on water and soil conservation, research into water resources development and hydraulic construction projects. Technological innovation with improved water use efficiency and effective pollution control may alleviate the impact of humans on natural water systems.
