Yellow River sediment in Inner Mongolia shows 'double decline'

The Ministry of Water Resources recently released the 2023 "China River Sediment Bulletin." The report reveals a notable "double decline" in sediment transport and sediment concentration in the Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River for the year 2023.

According to the bulletin, the main hydrological control station at Toudaoguai on the Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River recorded 17.34 billion cubic meters in total runoff in 2023.

This figure is 20 percent lower than the long-term average annual runoff and 20.2 percent lower than the average annual runoff over the past decade.

The annual sediment transport volume there was reported at 23.9 million metric tons, marking a significant 76 percent decrease compared to the long-term average and a 59 percent decrease compared to the average over the past decade.

There was also a 19 percent reduction compared to the sediment transport volume in 2022.

The annual average sediment concentration was recorded at 1.38 kilograms per cubic meter, representing a 70 percent decrease from the long-term average and a 21 percent decrease from the average sediment concentration in 2022.

These figures highlight a significant improvement in the sediment management and water quality of the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia, demonstrating the success of the region’s efforts in environmental conservation and river management.