China to continue boosting lower Tarim River ( 2003-09-14 11:52) (Xinhua)
Water resources authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in
northwest China say the region will continue to feed water to the thirsty lower
Tarim River next year.
The autonomous region launched a water-transfusion project in 2000 to feed
the 300-km lower reach of the Tarim River, which dried up in the 1970s because
of the overuse of water resources in the upper and middle reaches.
The Tarim River is the longest inland river in China, which serves as the
most important water source in the arid autonomous region.
Since 2000, 2.3 billion cubic meters of water has been injected into the
river from Lake Bosten.
According to Wang Jianzhong, deputy director with the administration of the
river, the project so far has seen a recovery of 18,000 hectares of natural
vegetation.
A stretch of 800-square-kilometers of poplars along the river are also
enjoying improved growing conditions.
Wang said the groundwater in the area also rose, to a maximum increase of
seven meters.
The country started a comprehensive control project of the Tarim River in
2001, which was expected to be complete in five years. By then, Wang said, the
lower reaches would have a stable supply of 300 million cubic meters of water
every year.
However, the transfusion from Lake Bosten will remain an effective measure to
keep local the ecology from deteriorating before the comprehensive project is
completed, Wang said.
Though the water level in the Kaidu River, a major water source of Lake
Bosten, saw a decline this year, which resulted in the ensuing fall of the water
level in the lake, Wang said the level was still higher than the average of the
past years, so the feeding project next year will not be affected.