Abstract

Through analysizing the movement process and distribution of water and sediment in the basin of the Yellow River, the allocation units in the basin were stated with their characteristics of sediment distribution. The allocation units include basin trapping sediment, reservoir sedimentation, river sedimentation, diversion sediment(included warping sediment for reinforcing dikes), estuarine and ocean sediment, which changes with implementation of harnessing projects and runoff condition in the basin. From 1950 to 1999, the average annual amounts of the basin trapping sediment, reservoir sedimentation, river sedimentation, diversion sediment, estuarine and ocean sediment are respectively 251×10⁶ tons, 248×10⁶ tons, 215×10⁶ tons, 186×10⁶ tons and 895×10⁸ tons, which are respectively 14.24%, 14.05%, 12.19%, 10.56% and 50.77% of the whole annual sediment yield in the basin (which is 1763×10⁶ tons). It was stated that some problems for the sediment allocation are much sedimentation in reservoir and river channel. According to long term practices in sediment harnessing and utilization, some ways of sediment utilization as a kind of natural resource are suggested as follows: dike consolidation with warping, land formation with sediment and comprehensive utilization of dredged sediment at the estuary, building material from sediment, utilization of diversion sediment(included warping for the barren land), highland reclamation with dredged sediment in irrigation systems, river regulation and protection of the stable channel, wetland formation with sediment, and so on.

Keywords: yellow river basin; sediment allocation; allocation unit; utilization; implementation ways