Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, August 24-30, 2008, Darmstadt

RESEARCH ON EVALUATION SYSTEM AND KEY

TECHNOLOGY OF THE WETLANDS EVOLUTION
AND DEGENERATION IN LARGE RIVER MOUTH IN
CHINA
YiXin Yan*,**, DeAn Wu**, JinHai Zheng*, XiQing Chen** and ChaoFeng Tong**
*The College of Traffic and Ocean, Hohai University, Nanjing
**National Key Laboratory of Hydrology, Hydroresources and Water Conservancy Science, Nanjing
Abstract:
This paper introduces the targets, contents and technical roadmap of the carrying on research
project on the estuarine wetlands evolution and degeneration Focusing on the Yangtze River Estuary,
through analyzing the present situation, features and courses of change of the wetland, the basic
evolution elements and its interaction as well as the impacts of the human activities will be
recognized. A series numerical models including hydrodynamic and eco-hydrodynamic model will be
established. Meanwhile a monitoring system, an evaluating system, a management system and an
information administrating system will be provided.

I.

INTRODUCTION

A. Problems of Chinese Estuarine Wetlands

Most of the wetlands in China distribute along the
east coast, which are the most developed region.
Due to the urbanization, huge farm reclamation and
the rapid industrialization, the area of wetlands are
shrinking and the ecological environment is
degenerating. The main fact lies in the fact as [1, 2]:

1. The requirement of coastal lands is under

tremendous pressure, which results in the rapid
diminution of coastal wetlands due to the
reclamation. Since 1950s, 219 104 hm2 of
coastal wetland has been lost, 73% of the
natural mangrove and 80% of the coral reef
disappeared.
2. The growing population, industry, agriculture and
aquatics breeding pour more contaminated
water into coastal water. Serious eutrophication
makes the red tide frequently happen in
nearshore region. In the year 2000 recorded 28
times red tide and the year 2002 was up to 79
times with much large scale, which not only
destroyed coastal economy development but
also devastate coastal sightseeings.
3. Excessive groundwater extraction leads the
sinking of the land. Sand digging and sediment
impoundment by reservoirs induce the
unbalance of sediment supply and increase the
land erosion. By estimation, 70% of sandy coast
and majority of silting coastal area are suffering
erosion in intensive extent [3].
4. Since the 20s century, the sea level runs up due
the globe weather change [4], which causes sea

water, intrudes inland. Typhoons attack costal

area and make the situation become worse.
5. Laws about wetlands in China [5] separated in
different lists without integrality and systematism,
Different government departments, such as
forestry, environment, ocean administration,
agriculture, water resources and fishery, have
the right to manage the coastal zone, which
results in the chaos in management.
B. Present Situation in Estuarine Wetland Research
In order to solve the problems and meet the
nations needs, the following research works are
conducted [6, 7, and 8]. the diversity of wetlands
life-form. the function and zoology process of
wetlands. The research primarily focused on the 3
aspects as physical, chemical and biologic. the
forming and developing mechanism of estuarine
wetlands. reconstruction of ecologic system in
estuarine wetlands. relationship of Human-land in
estuarine wetlands. Global weather change
effects on estuarine wetland. evaluation of
wetlands. construction of digital estuarine
wetlands[ 9, 10,11,and 12 ]. At this moment only in
the delta of Yellow river and Yangtze River the
construction work are on the way [13].

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Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, August 24-30, 2008, Darmstadt

II. INTRODUCTION OF THE RESEARCH WORK OF

KEY TECHNOLOGY AND EVALUATION SYSTEM IN
DEGRADATION OF CHINESE ESTUARIAL WETLANDS
PROJECT
Combining the highlights of wetlands research
work [6,7, and 8]and problems[1,2] of national development
tactic, the author apply the special financed program
authorized by Ministry of Water Resources of China,
which called the research work of key technology
and evaluation system in degradation of Chinese
estuarial wetlands. This research is focused on
wetlands of Yangtze River Estuary, started form
December of 2007 to December of 2010. The
following context shows the detailed introduction of
embody target, contents, technical roadmap and
probable outcomes.
A. The Fundamental Characteristics and the Law
Research of the Saline Intrusion
The subject target is to find the quantificational
relationship between the saline intrusion, upstream
flux, tidal change and topographical features. With
numerical simulation, quantitative study of influences
of the three Gorges Project, south to north water
transfer project and water extraction along lower
reach will be carry out. As well as the influence of
sea level rising will also be probed. To analyze and
evaluate the possible influence of wetland affected
by the salt water intrusion and also bring forward the
response options, the forecast system of the salt
water intrusion will be found.
The main research contents are as follows. First, the
relation between saltwater intrusion route and the
varying of annul fresh water flux and characteristics
of tidal range affecting limit in Datong that is 600 km
away from river mouth. Second, the analysis of the
transformative course about the saline intrusion,
main content is the relation between the brine
intrusion and the hydrology of drainage area, the
estuarine landscape and marine elements.

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Third, the research about the main element which

affect the flux in dry season from October to March
next year, including the course of the storing or
releasing processes of Three Gorge Project,
extracting water for irrigation and pollution prevention
along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze
River, long-term hydrological changes, the influence
of south to north water transfer project and so on.
Forth, the brine intrusion will bring some influence on
the drinking water source in the estuary. Fifth, the
sea level rising has to be accounted in the saline
intrusion.
B. Study on Marine Force Elements and Its Impact
on the Estuarine Wetlands Evolution
Base upon the digital terrain database
hydrographic survey information since 1958, the
target of the subject is to study the laws of estuary
wetlands evolution affected by waves, tidal waves
and other dynamic elements by means of the
mathematics models of wave, tidal current and storm
surge etc.
The main contents are concluded as follows:
data collection and the corresponding database
construction regarding waves, tide gauges, storm
surge records since 1950s. the characteristics of
waves and tidal waves. the interaction processes
between wetlands elements and hydrodynamic
factors. storm surge effect to wetlands and
construction works standard. sea level rising
effect to the wave, storm surge, tidal wave in
numerical calculations.

Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, August 24-30, 2008, Darmstadt

The main contents of this subject will be:

Analyzing the variation of runoff and sediment
characteristics due to the upstream water works as
well as the huge amount usage of water along the
river, giving a prediction for future development.
Establishing the relationship between river runoff and
sediment supply with the change of estuarine
geometry, analyzing the changes in river runoff and
sediment on the estuary wetland evolution.
Researching on sediment migration in the estuarine
and its impact on the estuary landscape. Probing
the sedimentation under the multi-ocean dynamics.
Impacting of sea-level rising on the of estuarine mud
migration.

C. Study on Sediment Migration Processes and the

Wetlands Response
The research aim is to use the Yangtze River
Estuary as an example, studying the sediment
discharge change from river to sea, and analyzing
the corresponding variation of estuarine topography.
The movement regulation of the sediment in
estuarine condition is also studied, in which the
erosion and deposition of wetlands is under
consideration. A relation is tried to be established
between river runoff and sediment discharge with
estuarine wetlands erosion and deposition. The
growth, reconstruction and protection model will be
proposed in the lack sediment supply condition.

D. Study on Water Environment Evolution and

Countermeasure on the Lower Reaches of the
Yangtze River after the Three Gorge Project
Beginning
The subject goals are mentioned as follows. It is
concentrated on studying the impact of sediment
reduction on ports, waterways, land reclamation,
drinking water resources, water quality, as a series
of water woks has been carrying out upstream.
Assessments on the influence of sewage discharge
to drinking water resources and water environment
will also be made. The measures for estuary water
environment governance and the control will also be
making out.
The main contents are: the impact of changing
water and sediment discharges on the water
environment, the influence of pollutants on the
water quality as well as ecological environments in
Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent sea, the
environmental
evaluation
system
and
countermeasures study.

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Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, August 24-30, 2008, Darmstadt

E. Study on the Degradation of Wetlands and the

Impact of Sea-level Rising
The study objectives are as follows. Based on the
multi-phase satellite and aerial remote sensing digital
information and topographic database, the
processes of the wetland development, evolution
features and the reasons for change will be
discussed. The influence of human activities on the
wetland is also included. The hotspot about the
effect of sea-level rising to the estuary wetlands will
be conducted, which focuses on the mechanism,
processes and evolutionary trend. The wetland
protection and development models and evaluation
system on the background of sea-level rising are
going to be established
The main topics in the study are mentioned as:
calculate the rate of sea level rising and its impact on
the characteristics of tide gauges. the current
situation of evolution and degradation of the main
wetlands, such as the East Chongming Shoal and
Jiuduan Shoal, in which in despite of geometry
features of the wetlands the ecological components
data, such as the tidal flat plant species, is also
collected and analyzed . The impact of sea level
rising to biodiversity of coastal wetlands and
estuaries will also be verified. a model of
assessment on the evolution of wetlands and
wetland degradation due to sea level rising will be
obtained.

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F. Comprehensive Research System for Wetlands

The research objectives of subtopics are based on
previous conclusions about the influence of river,
ocean and human activities on the wetlands to find a
comprehensive assessment system, which relies on
how to determine the corresponding evaluation unit,
guide line set and the weight distribution. Also on the
basis
of
preliminary
studies,
wetlands
comprehensive information management system will
be established. On the base of the comprehensive
evaluation system and comprehensive information
management system, the digital simulation system is
going to be developed, which could be used for the
estuary region's economic development, land
requirement and coordinated development of
wetlands.
The research contents can be concluded as:
based on the comprehensive evaluation index
theory, comprehensive evaluation weight principles,
correctly determining corresponding evaluation unit,
evaluation index and its weight for establishment of
estuarine wetlands comprehensive assessment
system. fully understanding and comparing SQL
Server2000 database and Access, Oracal, and other
types of data to select the more efficient type.
considering the dynamic complexity of the evolution
of major wetland degradation processes and
choosing system dynamic model to simulate the
interrelationship of elements to get the development
trend of long-term forecasts.

Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, August 24-30, 2008, Darmstadt

G. Study on Wetlands Management and Protection

Countermeasures
The last subject is on the basis of previous
research and also on the Yangtze River estuary
wetlands characteristics. Some proposals to meet
the national resources, the environment, and the
ecological requirements are discussed.
Research contents are focus on Three Gorges
Dam reservoir operation to meet the requirement of
protection of water resources and ecological
environment, (1) the water resource management in
typical dry season, (2) the countermeasures for
saline intrusion in the dry season including
engineering and non-engineering measures, (3) the
countermeasures for the impact of riverbed evolution
on the socio-economy; (4) the countermeasures for
the navigation channel due to less supply of
sedimentation, (5) the countermeasures for river
bank protection works.

III. CONCLUSIONS
Putting the Yangtze River Estuary water body and
its wetlands as a goal, a series of study works will be
carrying out in the following aspects the laws of
wetlands evolution, influence of change of natural
environment and human activities on wetlands,
impact of wetlands change on ecological
environment. The ultimate aim, the Yangtze River
Estuary as an example, is to establish wetland
comprehensive assessment system and estuary
wetland
comprehensive
evaluation
system
depending on the evaluation unit, set targets,
indicators, is to obtain a simulation model
considering different affecting factors, is to get
different databases and its application platform.
Finally, wetlands control techniques for decreasing
the wetlands degradation will be given and relevant
science and technology proposals will be discussed
for government to protect wetland ecological
environment.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The fund supported by the research work of key
technology and evaluation system in degradation of
Chinese estuarial wetlands.

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