The Exploitation and Ecological Protection of Water Resources around Yuka River Basin of Qaidam

The Yuka River flows through two secondary rift basin-Yuka Basin and Mahai Basin. The total amount of surface water in this area is about 10 236.58×10⁴m³, while the total resource of ground water is 17 764.55×10⁴m³. In the Yuka Basin, the amount of surface water and ground water is 10 123.06×10⁴m³ and 6 967.85×10⁴m³ respectively, while the exploitation amount of groundwater is 226.3×10⁴m³, accounting for 3.2% of the total groundwater resources. Besides, in the Mahai Basin, the amount of surface water and ground water is 9 145.44×10⁴m³ and 10 796.7×10⁴m³ respectively, and the exploitation amount of groundwater is 619.8×10⁴m³, who takes up 5.7% of the total groundwater. According to the research on the use of groundwater resource in this area, it can be concluded that there is a shortage of downstream groundwater resource with the intensified exploitation of groundwater, thus resulting in deterioration of the ecological environment. Without a plan of rational development and utilization of groundwater in this area, the downstream environment may get worse and worse, and finally the ecological balance will be destroyed. Therefore, reasonable exploitation and utilization of groundwater is a primary concern closely related to the sustainable development of downstream industry and agriculture in this area.