ecological restoration of polluted plain rivers within the haihe river basin in china

Ecological Restoration of Polluted Plain Rivers Within the HaiheRiver Basin in China

W. Wang & X. Q. Tang & S. L. Huang &

S. H. Zhang & C. Lin & D. W. Liu & H. J. Che &

Q. Yang & Miklas Scholz

Received: 15 June 2009 /Accepted: 7 December 2009 /Published online: 8 January 2010# Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009

Abstract The Haihe River basin is located in thenorth of China and has an area of 318,000 km2. Theregion is politically important and economicallyadvanced. For example, the Haihe River basinsustains a population of more than 120 million andgenerates a gross domestic production of approxi-mately 2,600 billion Chinese Yuan. The ecological

health of plain rivers within the Haihe River basin ofChina is questionable because of severe water short-ages, considerable water, soil and air pollution, andthe destruction of the natural river morphologies. It istherefore necessary to establish a generic and theore-tical restoration methodology to guide river ecologicalrestoration efforts in the future. Thirteen methodolo-gies and technologies were selected from an existingsuit of ecosystem restoration techniques currentlyapplied to the Haihe River catchment. These techno-logies were further divided into three types: waterquantity adjustment, water purification, and habitatimprovement. The most suitable ecological restora-tion techniques were selected as a function of all threetypes. However, direct methods of addressing waterquantity and quality problems were identified ascritical for the success of future restoration efforts.Examples of the application of the conceptualecological restoration model for the representativeplain rivers Beiyunhe, Yongding and Wei, all locatedwithin the Haihe River Basin, are also assessed. Theconceptual model provides practical solutions topollution problems, is generic in nature, and couldtherefore be applied to other polluted watercourses indensely populated regions in the developed anddeveloping world.

Keywords Water resources development . Ecologicalrestoration .Water quantity adjustment .Waterpurification . Habitat improvement . China

Water Air Soil Pollut (2010) 211:341–357DOI 10.1007/s11270-009-0304-5

W. Wang :X. Q. Tang : S. L. Huang (*)Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and EnvironmentalCriteria of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratoryof Environmental Remediation and Pollution Controlin Tianjin, College of Environmental Scienceand Engineering, Nankai University,Tianjin 300071, People’s Republic of Chinae-mail: [email protected]

S. H. Zhang :C. LinWater Resources Administration, Haihe River WaterConservation Commission,Ministry of Water Resources of China,Tianjin 300170, People’s Republic of China

D. W. Liu :H. J. CheInstitutes for Water Resources Protection,Haihe River Water Conservation Commission,Tianjin 300170, People’s Republic of China

Q. Yang :M. Scholz (*)Institute for Infrastructure and Environment,School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh,William Rankine Building, The King’s Buildings,Edinburgh EH9 3JL Scotland, UKe-mail: [email protected]

1 General Status of Plain Rivers Within the HaiheRiver Basin

The Haihe River basin (Fig. 1) is located in the northof China and has an area of 318 000 km2. The regionis politically important and is culturally and econo-mically advanced. For example, the Haihe River basincurrently sustains a population of approximately 122million, generating an estimated gross domesticproduction of approximately 2,600 billion ChineseYuan (Xia et al. 2006). The climate of the Haihe Riverbasin is semi-wet and semi-arid with a mean annualprecipitation between 379.2 and 583.3 mm (Yang andTian 2009). However, the temporal distribution ofprecipitation is uneven (Yang 2003). Most of the

rainfall (approximately 80%) is recorded in summer(between June and September) with minimum andmaximum recordings of approximately 360 and800 mm, respectively (Yang and Tian 2009). Themean annual temperatures in the catchment arebetween −4.9°C and 15.0°C.

In recent decades, the Haihe River basin hasexperienced a relatively high and growing watershortage due to climate change and human activity.Between 1956 and 1998, the annual per capitawater availability in the basin was only 305 m3,which is less than approximately 1/7th of China’sestimated mean (Xia et al. 2006). The Haihe Riverecosystem was subjected to increasing stress withthe rapid growth of the Chinese economy and the

Fig. 1 Schematic diagramof the Haihe River basin

342 Water Air Soil Pollut (2010) 211:341–357

construction of hydraulic structures (Yang 2003).This development resulted in ecological problemsincluding water shortage, deterioration of wetlandsand lakes, groundwater level reduction, water pollu-tion, and the ecological deterioration of estuaries(Niu and Xie 2007).

The plain region of the Haihe River basin iscurrently characterized by 40% of the total basinarea, and approximately 73% of the total population,65% of the plantations, and 83% of the total grossdomestic product (Xia et al. 2006). Most of the riversin this region dry up regularly, and some river reachesbecome virtually permanently sandy. From 2000 to2005, 23 major plain rivers were dried up 216 days,and 11 of them dried up by more than 300 days (Xu2001). Of the total river course of 3,883 km,1,721 km was dried up, which accounts for 44% ofthe total river length. As a result, the following riversbecame sandy: Yongding, Daqing, Ziya, Fuyang, andZhang (Fig. 1). Moreover, over-exploitation andartificial excavation speeded up the damage of flood-plains, river sedimentation, and the degradation of theriver ecosystem (Bai and Xu 2003).

The shortage of river water and the discharge ofrelative large quantities of wastewater directly intowatercourses led to significant water pollution (Huanget al. 2002). The water of approximately 80% of therivers is not even suitable for irrigation of agriculturalland. Similar problems were noted for watercourses inthe plain region; parts of some river channels werechanged and/or degraded due to urban wastewaterdischarge (Joseph et al. 2001). Better water qualitylevels were only achieved for downstream stretches ofthe Luanhe River, the Lugouqiao reach of theYongding River, and the Zhangfang reach of theNanjuma River. Ammonia–nitrogen, chemical oxygendemand, biochemical oxygen demand, volatilehydroxybenzene, total phosphorus, fluoride, cadmium,mercury, and lead are the pollutants of greatest concern(Liu et al. 2003).

Rivers situated within the Haihe River basinwere disturbed by flood control measures andexploitation of water resources. This led to thedestruction of the natural river system configura-tions and the loss of established hydrologicalregimes. Flow rates decreased sharply with theconstruction of drinking water reservoirs andassociated water supply channels (Yang and Tian2009). For example, the excavation of the Ziyaxin

River and the Yongdingxin River changed theirnatural flow patterns and embankments in themidwest plain region. This resulted in the loss ofnatural river characteristics that are typical for thecorresponding landscape.

In 2009, virtually all of the plain river systemswithin the Haihe River basin have been artificiallychanged, and their corresponding flow regimes arefully controlled (Zhang and Doll 2008). Flow controlstructures such as gates and dams have disturbed thehydraulic and environmental relationships betweenrivers and other connected watercourses such aswetlands and lakes as observed also elsewhere(Scholz and Sadowski 2009; Zhang and Doll 2008).Flood discharge constructions have considerablyreduced the flood impulse effects. The impacts ofthese changes have led to the deterioration of theecological health of most watercourses within theHaihe River basin; this is particularly the case forthe river bank morphology and ecology. The biodi-versity considerably decreased in most of the plainrivers, e.g., fish completely disappeared from therivers Yongding, Nanyun, Daqing, and Ziya (Fig. 1).It was therefore necessary to establish the mostappropriate ecological restoration strategies for theHaihe River Basin to restore the damaged riverecological systems and improve the basin water andenvironmental quality.

2 Factors Responsible for the Damage of the RiverEcosystem

River ecosystems are complex and can be character-ized by a variety of sub-ecosystems such as riverembankment, aquatic zone, and adjacent wetland andmarsh (Nel et al. 2007). In general, hydrology,topography, and hydraulics may considerably affectthe ecological health of a river (Li and Ju 2004).Furthermore, discharging wastewater, over-exploitationof water resources, building on floodplains, deforesta-tion, introduction of exotic animal and plant species,and constructions of dams, water reservoirs, channels,and other hydraulic engineering projects also destroythe natural river ecosystem health (Martin and Anthony2002).

The over-consumption of fresh water and directwastewater discharge directly destroy river ecosys-tems. Water quantity shortage and water quality

Water Air Soil Pollut (2010) 211:341–357 343

deterioration lead to the extinction of aquatic com-munities and subsequently the breakdown of an entireriver ecosystem (Lu et al. 2007). Furthermore, theinvasion of exotic species results in the imbalance offood chains and nutrient level compositions (Hoffmanet al. 2001). The construction of a variety of hydraulicstructures such as dams changes the natural riverphysiognomy as well as the hydrological and hydraulicconditions and thus decreases the river self-restorationcapability.

Natural rivers are characterized by a well-establishedand stable nutrient transfer balance. With the periodicalternation of the natural hydrology and the transfer ofnutrients, biological communities become diverse andshow well-defined distribution pattern changes fromupstream to downstream river reaches (Dong 2007).

The construction of dams and associated waterreservoirs, however, may destroy the river continuityand results in the decline of its self-purificationcapability, water quality, and biological and habitatdiversity (Scholz and Sadowski 2009; Yu and Wu2009). Artificial embankments and other river bankprotections measures destroy the flow continuity andblock biochemical and energy exchanges betweenthe river and flooded areas and thus cause the degrada-tion of floodplains and a decline in corresponding biolo-gical diversity (Bai et al. 2006).

Riverbed induration (i.e., process of drying out)destroys the vertical riverbed structure and causes adetrimental impact on the corresponding river waterquality (Long and Pan 2006). Dried-out riverbedsrestrain substances and energy exchange betweenriver water and groundwater, resulting in the declineof the water level and the shrinkage of the riverwetland area. Moreover, the presence of a dried-outriverbed limits the purification effect contributed bymicrobes, plants, and the benthic fauna and enhancesthe degradation of the river ecosystem.

River ecosystems can only maintain their naturalbiodiversity under excellent ecological habitat con-ditions. Straight river courses promote detrimentallyfast flows. In comparison, slow flows, curves, deeppools, and shallow banks promote fish and otheraquatic species, increasing the heterogeneity ofhabitat space and biodiversity (Scholz 2006). Thesenatural river features can also speed up the process ofpollutant breakdown, enhance microbial activity, andstrengthen the river self-purification capability (Dong2006).

3 Ecological River Restoration Techniques

3.1 Background

Ecological river restoration is a complex process,which can restore the river ecosystem back to itsvirtually original state without significant damage andthe possibility to regain its natural patterns (Palmer etal. 2005). Human activities that are significantlyharmful to the river ecosystem should be stoppedimmediately. This could be followed by the adoptionof suitable river restoration techniques that will alsolead to an improvement of the river self-purificationcapability and the creation of supportive habitats. Inlight of these restoration principles, river restorationtechniques can be categorized into physical, chemical,and biological–ecological restoration.

3.2 Physical Restoration

Water recharge can be undertaken with the help ofhydraulic structures and equipment such as gates andpumps (Petheram et al. 2002). The introduction ofwater resources from upstream and nearby regionscan supplement the river water quantity, dilute thepollutant concentrations and increase the oxygencontent, improve the water environment, and enhancethe river self-purification capability (Table 1).

Ecological anti-seepage techniques can be used torestore rivers characterized by insufficient waterquantity due to serious leakage problems (NDRC2005). Anti-seepage measures decrease the river bedand bank permeability trough lining, reduce waterlosses, and increase the water flow in the river.Moreover, this group of techniques can maintain theintegrity of the river course ecosystem and createsuitable habitats for aquatic growth. For example,firm concrete frames can be used for seepagereduction and plant growth, respectively. Firm con-crete can be used as lining material to enhance theriver bed integrity, while soil baskets can be appliedas substrate for plant growth to promote the self-purification capability (Hou 2005).

Carefully undertaken sediment dredging and off-sitedisposal can greatly reduce secondary pollutant input viasediment release into the water column and createsuitable habitat conditions, promoting ecological resto-ration (Zhong et al. 2007). Sediment dredging andcovering, however, has some shortcomings such as


high costs and requires high dredging precision toprevent damage of the river bed ecosystem.

Artificial aeration via boats and submerged aerationequipment is a further engineering restoration techniqueand can be used to increase the river water oxygencontent and further restore the river ecosystem (Teal andWeishar 2005). The enhancement of oxygen availabilitycan accelerate the pollutant degradation rate, improvethe decomposition of organic matter, and create afavorable habitat for aquatic species. Artificial aerationand water level reductions via dams and gates locatedin the upstream river reaches are the most frequentlyapplied techniques used to increase oxygen availability.

3.3 Chemical Restoration

Chemical restoration can be undertaken by addingchemical reagents to the river. The reagent propertiesdepend on the target pollutant properties. Chemicalrestoration can remove or fix the pollutant forciblyand improve the associated river water quality.Traditional chemical restoration techniques includethe addition of flocculent reagents to improvedeposition, limestone to remove nitrogen, variouschemical reagents to remove algae, and chemicals toadjust pH values to fix heavy metals and otherpollutants (Li et al. 2006; Scholz 2006). Chemicalrestoration is simple in operation and performs wellfor short periods. However, secondary pollution hasto be avoided (de Jonge and de Jong 2002).

3.4 Ecological Restoration

Ecological river restoration is a rather recent strategy,which covers a wide range of measures such ascultivation of aquatic plants, the addition of micro-

organisms, restoration of damaged ecosystems, and therestoration of the natural river configuration. Ecologicalrestoration strengthens the natural self-purification capa-bility and supports succession of the river ecology(Scholz and Trepel 2004; Giller 2005; Li 2006).Ecological restoration techniques (Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5)within the case-study catchment comprised aquaticplant and microorganism restoration using innovativeconstructed wetlands technology and natural riverconstruction techniques (Tang et al. 2009).

Microbial restoration uses microbes to decomposeorganic pollutants, and thus improves the waterquality and ecology (Rao 2007). The addition ofbacteria is one of the commonly used microbialrestoration method, which efficiently degrades pollu-tants and leads to the restoration of the damagedecosystem. However, disadvantages such as longperiods of microbial acclimatization and environmen-tal boundary conditions limit the success of large-scale applications of adding microbes (Scholz 2006).

Another commonly used technique is biofilm resto-ration. Microbes colonize the surface of gravel and othernatural or synthetic materials and form a biofilm.Degradation, physical adsorption, precipitation, filtra-tion, and other processes involved in this techniquegreatly contribute to natural river purification. Thistechnique has a low requirement for equipment andexpenditure and is associated with a low ecological risk.Lightly polluted water can be treated relatively well.

Ecological restoration exploits the potential ofaquatic plants and microorganisms in the removal ofpollutants within micro-ecosystems (He and He 2007).Aquatic plants were the most important component ofa healthy river ecosystem, and the uptake ofnutrients by plant rhizomes and/or roots can greatlyreduce the pollutant concentrations within the water

Table 1 Classification of river ecological restoration techniques

Water quantity distribution Water quality enhancement Habitat improvement

Water recharge Water recharge Water recharge

Watercourse lining Artificial aeration Watercourse lining

Ecological rebuilding Sediment dredging and covering Biological restoration

Watercourse space reengineering Chemical restoration Ecological protection of riverbanks

Microbial restoration Floodplain and riverbank restoration

Biological restoration Watercourse habitat restoration

Constructed wetlands and stabilization ponds Watercourse space reengineering

Ecological protection of riverbanks


column, and increase water transparency and oxygenavailability. Typical aquatic restoration techniquesinclude biological floating bed techniques (e.g.,artificial floating island technique), biological sub-

merged bed techniques, and biological manipulationtechniques (Scholz and Lee 2005).

Integrated constructed wetlands could also be used asan ecological restoration technique, which greatly

Plain river

reach

Water quantity

adjustment

Water

quality

Habitat

improvement

Unsatisfying the basic flow for

ecological needs

Satisfying the basic flow for

ecological needs

Satisfied

after

Habitat damage; water

quality can be improving by increasing the purification

Water quality can

not be improved;

habitat damage

Water quality can be

improved; favorable habitat;

restored naturally after water

Determina-

tion of

restoration

mode

details or

selection of

alternatives

Unsatisfied after all tools were exhausted

Achieved water quality standard; favorable

habitat; restored naturally after water recharge

Fig. 2 Overview of plain river ecological restoration modes for the Haihe River basin

Fig. 3 Ecological restora-tion of the Beiyun River


improves the water quality by substrate adsorption andfiltration, microbial assimilation and transformation,and wetland plant uptake (Scholz et al. 2007). Thistechnique can efficiently control point and non-pointsource contamination and reduces heavy metals,pesticides, and nutrients contained within the riverwater. Previous studies indicated that flow patterns,hydraulic loading, plant species, temperature, pH,substrate type, and operational conditions can signifi-cantly affect wetland performance (Wang 2007).

Ecological river bank protection may use plants andstone to reinforce banks and to restore damagedecosystems. This technique can also be applied toconnect the aquatic ecosystem to the nearby terrainecosystem and to reduce non-point source pollution.Basket protection, the introduction of plant growingsubstrate, and perforated concrete frames were thecommonly used ecological river bank protection techni-ques within the case study catchment (Chen and Li2007).

Wetland floodplain and riverside restoration con-nects the nearby terrain with the river ecosystem andprovides habitat for plants and animals. The restora-tion of wetland floodplains is important in controllingnon-point source pollution, maintaining high biodi-versity, and restoring and rebuilding healthy riverecosystems (Scholz and Lee 2005; Zhao et al. 2008).

River course habitat restoration mainly restores theliving environment including spawn, feeding, and hidingsites as well as passages for fish and invertebrate (Hou2005). The formation of shallow and deep pools can beachieved through excavating and elevating the riverbed, respectively. Fish passages, shallow–deep pools,substrate restoration, riverbank covering, hiding placesmade of stone, and t-shaped dams are commonly usedrestoration techniques.

River course space reengineering is used to restore thenatural river form by rebuilding the river curves andbends and restoring the river cross section (Zhao et al.2007). Restoring the river flow pattern can efficientlyincrease the oxygen supply, create enriched habitats,and restore and enhance the river self-purificationcapability, thus improving the aquatic ecological bufferability.

Ecological rebuilding techniques can be applied inthe restoration of river courses that are subjected towater quantity shortage and perennial drying up(Table 1). If a river cannot satisfy the ecological baseflow, it is necessary to rebuild the ecosystem or tosubstitute the damaged one by constructing shallowlakes with a slow flow speed.

4 Applicability of Restoration Techniquesfor the Haihe River Basin

The Haihe River basin has considerable waterresources needs, and its restoration should thereforeconsider hydrological conditions, river course charac-Fig. 5 Ecological restoration of the Wei River

Fig. 4 Ecological restoration of the Yongding River


teristics, and the management of existing hydraulicstructures. Rivers located within the lower HaiheRiver basin predominantly dry-up and fall short of thebasic ecological flow. Water recharge is the key needto restore these rivers. However, this techniqueconflicts with the current status of severe watershortage in this region. Water recharge techniquesshould therefore be applied firstly to rivers that havesufficient water (e.g., Luan River) to meet watersupply demands and are of great importance to theeconomy such as the Lugou reach of the YongdingRiver (Yang and Tian 2009).

The water source for recharge should be diverseand may include a reasonable re-distribution of theexisting water resources, runoff, and the reuse ofeffluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants(Wu et al. 2007). Leakage significantly occurs insandy riverbeds; thus it is necessary to adopttechniques to prevent leakage and to satisfy the basicriver flow requirement and create favorable conditionsfor putting water recharge into practice.

Most downstream river courses are seriously filledup by polluted sediment; thus sediment dredging andcovering should be used to solve this problem (Songet al. 2006). Chemical restoration has often excellenteffects in the short-term but may cause secondarypollution. In order to prevent adverse affects ofchemical regents, ecological restoration should begiven the priority in improving the water quality,while chemical restoration should only be consideredfor the restoration of significantly polluted rivers withlow biodegradation capability (Fu et al. 2007).

Constructed wetlands could be used for ecologicalriver restoration (Tang et al. 2009). However, the coldclimate of the Haihe River basin may limit theapplication of constructed wetlands in this regionduring winter. Ecological river bank protection usingstones in combination with flood control structures isone of the most important restoration techniquesapplied in Haihe River basin.

Riversides and the floodplains within the Haihe Riverbasin are predominantly occupied by farms and build-ings, hindering restoration efforts. After weighting theeconomic development and the river ecological healthneeds with each other, a reasonable restoration strategyfocusing on currently unused river stretches should beapplied.

Artificial aeration, microbial restoration, and aquaticrestoration techniques should be more widely used for

river restoration of the Haihe River basin. River coursehabitat restoration and river course reengineeringtechniques can both improve the river habitat, but arecurrently limited by requirements for economic deve-lopment. These methods should be used on the basis ofpreserving the existing hydraulic infrastructure such asdams guaranteeing river course safety.

River water shortage and pollution have not beenaddressed adequately. The strategy is therefore tosupport adaptive measures with multiple benefits. Forexample, water recharge can also improve the waterquality, restore the riverside plant community, andstrengthen the ecological connectivity. River spacereengineering techniques can create diverse habitats,adjust the river water quantity, increase the oxygencontent, and improve the water quality (Table 1).Ecological river bank protection is useful in reducingnon-point source pollution and connecting the aquaticand terrain ecological systems with each other.Aquatic river restoration can also support pollutantremoval.

5 Ecological Restoration Techniques Appliedin the Chinese Context

For most rivers within the Haihe River basin, watershortage and sedimentation are the most seriousproblems and should be addressed when consideringecological restoration. Based on water quantitycriteria, the river flow status can be classified eitheras “satisfying the basic flow for ecological needs” or“unsatisfying the basic flow for ecological needs”(Fig. 2). After consideration of the water quality andhabitat, the ecological restoration modes can becategorized as “up to standard,” “up to standard afterwater recharge,” “up to standard after improvement ofthe purification capability,” and “not up to standardafter improvement of the purification capability.” Thehabitat can be described either as “damaged,” “resto-ration after water recharge likely,” or “excellent.”

The categorization tool is also applied in practice.For example, the tool identified the Beiyun, Yonding,and Wei river habitats as damaged. Ecologicalrestoration model based on the analysis of waterquantity, water quality, and water habitat parameterswere applied. Various appropriate ecological restora-tion techniques were proposed for 18 further plainrivers in the Haihe River Basin.


For perennially dried-up rivers, the available watervolume could not satisfy the basic flow required tosatisfy the ecological needs (Liu and Yang 2002).Restoration strategies for this type of river shouldadopt the substitution mode (Table 2), e.g., construc-tion of a wet meadow ecosystem on sandy river bedsas a replacement for a degraded river ecosystem or thedevelopment of a lake ecosystem for river stretcheswithout any significant flow rate.

Water recharge improved the river bed perme-ability in some parts of the case study catchment.Various water quantity adjustment techniques led tobase flows that were satisfying the ecological needs(Xia et al. 2006). It follows that water recharge

restoration (Table 2) was adopted successfully. Thewater quality was assessed on river backgroundvalues and the incoming water quality. Assumingthat the incoming water was up to standard, thewater quality of the base flow and the habitatsituation are the only factors of relevance fordeciding on the most appropriate restoration mode.

For rivers where the water quality of the base flowwas excellent (i.e., light or medium polluted andwithout a serious sediment pollution problem), watershortage was the main factor responsible for riverhabitat damage. The habitat of various rivers wasrestored naturally by water recharge to dilute pollutedwater. This technique can be described as the direct

Table 2 Categorization of ecological restoration techniques and methodologies for rivers

Restoration style Restoration mode Ecological status Restoration techniques

Water quantity Water quality Ecologicalhabitat

Managementand protection

Management andprotection

Satisfies the basic flowfor ecological needs

Up to standard Excellent Enhanced managementand protection

Directrestoration

Habitat restoration Up to standard Damaged Habitat restoration

Up to standard withimproved purification

Water qualityimprovements

Not up to standard Excellent Water quality purification

Intensifiedpurification

Not up to standard Damaged Water quality purificationand habitat restoration

Restoration bywater recharge

Water recharge Unsatisfies thebasic flow forecological needs

Up to standard Excellent Water quantity adjustment

Up to standard

Water quality andhabitatimprovements

Up to standard Damaged Water quantity adjustmentand habitat restoration

Up to standard

Up to standard withimproved purificationability

Water quantity andqualityimprovements

Not up to standard Excellent Water quantity adjustmentand quality purification

Water quality andquantity, andhabitatimprovements

Not up to standard Damaged Water quantity adjustment,quality purification andhabitat restoration

Ecologicalsystemsubstitute

Ecological systemsubstitute

Perennial dried up,sandy river course,and cannot satisfythe water quantityrequirements

Rebuilding of thedamaged ecologicalsystem


water recharge mode (Table 2). For cases where theriver ecosystem could not be restored naturally aftersatisfying the requirement of a base flow levelnecessary for ecological needs, habitat improvementtechniques were introduced as part of the set ofavailable water quantity adjustment techniques. Thisstrategy can also be described as the water quantityand habitat improvement mode (Table 2).

For some rivers with serious sediment pollutionand significant pollution sources, a good water qualitycould not be maintained only through water quantityadjustment techniques, and water quality purificationtechniques were therefore adopted. Moreover, theapplication of this mode can be categorized either asthe water quantity and water quality improvementmode (no need for habitat improvement) or thecompound mode (habitat improvement was required).

Direct restoration can be applied for rivers thatsatisfy the basic flow rate required for ecologicalneeds (Table 2). Hydraulic constructions such asgates and dams affected the river course connectivityand resulted in habitat damage. However, riverecosystems can be restored by enhancement of theriver self-purification capability by applying habitatimprovement techniques for cases where the riverwater is lightly or moderately polluted (You et al.2009). The easily degradable pollutant fractionswere the major contributors to the total pollution. Ifthe river water was seriously polluted and subject tomajor current pollution sources, water purificationtechnique was adopted to improve the water qualityand to restore the river ecosystem for those riversthat maintained their natural configuration. Further-more, the intensified purification mode was used torestore habitat, if the river course was significantlyartificially disturbed.

In light of the above discussion, four restorationtypes and nine restoration modes were identified forecological river restoration within the Haihe Riverbasin (Table 2). For example, the management andprotection mode was mainly applied when riverecosystems were healthy. Direct restoration techniquesand methodologies can be used to restore rivers thatsatisfy the basic flow needs. The corresponding modesare habitat restoration, water quality improvement, andintensified purification.

The water recharge mode was mainly used torestore rivers that satisfy the basic flow needsobtained by water quantity adjustment techniques

including the following modes: direct water recharge,water quantity and habitat improvement, water quan-tity and water quality improvement, and compoundmode. Finally, the ecosystem substitution mode wasthe main solution for the restoration of rivers notsatisfying the basic flow rate required to maintainriver ecosystems.

6 Restoration Examples

6.1 Overview

The shortage of flow and water pollution caused aserious decline in biodiversity for most plain riverecosystems within the Haihe River Basin. Forexample, dried-up rivers or river reaches locatedin the downstream part of the Yongdingxin Riverwere completely ecologically degraded (Zhang etal. 2009). Some rivers, including the Beiyun, cannotprovide the base flow required for ecological needs.It follows that the river ecosystem was graduallyreplaced by polluted lake and reservoir ecosystems.The frequently dry Beiyun River is historically,culturally, and economically important. The dryYongding River bed is sandy due to bank erosion.In comparison, the Wei River has sufficient waterbut is considerably polluted (You et al. 2009). Thesethree case study rivers are amongst 21 rivers thatwere selected for ecological restoration.

6.2 Ecological Restoration of the Beiyun River

6.2.1 Background

The Beiyun River originates from the Beiguan Gate(Fig. 3; Tongzhou district, Beijing) and flows to theseaport. This river has a total length of 142.7 km anda watershed area of 6,166 km2 (Fig. 3). The BeiyunRiver was the most important part of the JinhangCanal and contributed greatly to the development ofthe Chinese economy, society, and culture (BRS2009). In recent years, the over-exploitation of thiswater resource led to the deterioration of the BeiyunRiver ecosystem (Li and Li 2007).

Water is abundant in the upstream of the BeiyunRiver. After the consecutive droughts between 1999 and2005, the mean annual runoff for the river reaches withinthe Beijing district was 487 million m3. However, for


downstream parts of the river network, the variation ofclimate and the increase of water consumption resultedin the decrease of the water quantity and the drying upof the river. After 2000, the river was dry in the lowerBeiyun River reach of Qujiadian.

From the end of the 1980s, the Beiyun River wasseriously polluted, and the water quality was deemedsuitable only for navigation. Between June andSeptember, river water dilution by flood water slightlyimproves the water quality (Fu 2006). Based on themonitoring data in July 2007 (Table 3), the river wasseriously polluted by nutrients, particularly ammonia–nitrogen. Moreover, upstream pollution was greaterthan downstream.

There are various hydraulic constructions withinthe upstream reaches of the Beiyun River: Shisanlin,Taoxiakou, Xiangtan, Deshengkou, and Wangjiayuanreservoirs and Beiguan, Yulinzhuang, Yangwa,Muchang, Tuloumen, and Kuangergang gates. Forthe middle reaches, most of the river is canalized, andfloodplains are occupied by farm land causingdegradation of the river habitat. The water quantity,water quality, and habitat characteristics are differentupstream compared to downstream. For the study ofthe conceptual ecological restoration model, it istherefore important to divide the Beiyun River(Fig. 3) into three parts: (a) Beiguan Gate toNiumutun, (b) Niumutun to Tuloumen, and (c) lowerreach of Tuloumen.

6.2.2 Ecological Restoration of the River ReachesBetween Beiguan and Niumutun

From Beiguan to Niumutun, the river reach is40.1 km long. The Wenyu River is located upstream,

and the Ba, Tonghui, and Liang rivers are the majortributaries for this river reach. During the floodingseason, the Beiyun River functions to approximately90% as a drainage channel (BRS 2009). In 2005,runoff rates for Tongzhou Station and YulinzhuangStation were 330 and 210 million m3, respectively,which satisfies the ecological and environmentalwater demand needs (Li et al. 2006).

Contaminated flood water from the Beijing district,urban rivers and lakes polluted with nitrogen, and thedischarge of wastewater contributed mostly to thesub-standard water quality of the river stretch betweenBeiguan and Niumutun. The ammonia–nitrogen con-centration of the river water was ten times higher thanthe ground water quality standard (Fu 2006).

The upper reaches of the Beiyun River locatedwithin the Tongzhou district have been integrated intothe urban landscape. Ecological enhancements suchas the planting of water lilies and cattail increasedwater purification and landscape aesthetics. However,for the lower river floodplains, which are rich in farmland, the biodiversity and river self-purificationcapability was relatively low. Habitat restoration wasthe main rehabilitation technique, which should besupplemented by the application of direct waterpurification techniques between Beiguanzha andNiumutun (Fig. 3).

Pollution source control was the most efficientmethod to improve the Beiyun River water quality.Nitrogen and phosphorus were the major pollutants.Integrated constructed wetlands, floating reed beds,oxidation ponds, biological filter beds, artificialaeration and plant remediation, and biofilm techni-ques could be used to purify the polluted river water(Scholz 2006).

Table 3 Water quality of the Beiyun River

Sampling sites Nitrate–nitrogen(mg/l)

Total nitrogen(mg/l)

Total phosphorus(g/l)

Permanganateindex

Hydroxy- benzene(mg/l)

Cd6+ (mg/l)

Ba River 6.4 7.3 1.4 0.45 <0.002 0.44

Upstream of Cao dam 4.6 6.8 2.9 0.44 <0.002 0.07

Downstream of Cao dam 3.9 7.6 1.6 0.45 <0.002 0.17

Fenggangjian River 11.2 11.5 4.2 0.51 <0.002 0.76

Kuanger Port 3.4 4.0 3.2 0.48 <0.002 0.26

Wuqing District 2.5 2.8 4.0 0.47 <0.002 0.41

Huangzhuang dam 2.8 2.9 1.7 0.46 <0.002 0.29


6.2.3 Ecological Restoration of the River ReachesBetween Niumutun and Tumenlou

Water shortages are not a problem for this case studyarea. However, the water quality is poor but slightlybetter in comparison to the river reaches betweenBeiguan and Niumutun. Rural surface water pollutionby farms is the greatest problem (Yang 2003).

The following habitat restoration techniquesshould be introduced to improve the river waterquality and biodiversity between Niumutun andTumenlou (Fig. 3): vegetation protection, bankstabilization with gabions and willow trees, compositeprotection, wetland creation and vegetation, andriprap composite protection. The restoration of naturalwetlands by utilization of floodplains, shoal marshes,and sandbanks and the construction of integratedconstructed wetlands should be conducted for theXinhe River, Longfeng River, and Qinglongwanestuaries to create ecological buffer zones.

6.2.4 Ecological Restoration of the River ReachesBetween Tumenlou and Qujiadian

The Beiyun River dries up frequently, and waterrecharge is therefore the main restoration technique.In Tianjin (Wuqing district), urban landscaped riverswith a total length of 3.73 km have already beenconstructed upstream of Zhenghuadao. The plantationof water lilies and other macrophytes greatly im-proved the landscape aesthetics and ecology. Waterrecharging should be applied as the main engineeringtechnique for the restoration of the river reachbetween Tuloumen and Qujiadian (Fig. 3).

Major water recharge projects in this region areonly feasible if water is diverted from the South to theNorth of China in the future. For the Beiyun River,runoff during the flood season (June to September)accounts for approximately 70% of the annual runoff.However, the flood water was not utilized. Theintroduction of reclaimed water into rivers canefficiently increase the water quantity. Consideringthe serious shortage of water within the Haihe RiverBasin, sustainable flood retention basins could help tocontrol and utilize runoff in the future (Scholz andSadowski 2009). However, river embankment resto-ration and construction of wetland gardens andbiological islands are currently the most commonlyused methods to restore the habitat.

6.3 Ecological Restoration of the Yongding River

6.3.1 Background

The Sanggan and Yang rivers converge at Zhuguantun(Hebei Province) and form the Yongding River. Fromthe upstream end of the Sanggan River to TianjinQujiadianzha, the Yongding River has a total length of680 km and a drainage basin area of 47,066 km2

(Fig. 4). The mean annual runoff is approximately21.7×108m3 (Yan and Zhao 2004). The upper andmiddle reaches of the Sanjiadian have plenty of goodwater. When entering into the Sanjiadian, the YongdingRiver becomes a plain river and frequently dries upbecause of water retention by reservoirs. Therefore, thelower reach of the Sanjiadian was chosen as theresearch target watercourse (Fig. 4).

Because of climate change, the precipitation withinthe Yongding River catchment decreased sharplysince the 1960s. Sluice constructions such as theGuanting reservoir were constructed at the upperreach of the Yongding River to satisfy the watersupply for the benefit of social and economicdevelopment (Gong 2005). Since the 1980s, virtuallyall available water resource was conveyed to Beijing,and the lower reaches of the Sanjiadian dried up. As aresult, the river beach wetlands degraded, animal andplant species sharply declined, the river ecosystemwas damaged, and sediment accumulated at the riverbed base (You et al. 2009).

The Lugou Bridge area is the most importantcultural landscape for the Yongding River. Itfollows that it was important to recharge thedamaged Yongding River. Nevertheless, no stablewater resource was available for river restoration(Baiyin et al. 2009). Therefore, the ecologicalsubstitute model was preferred over the waterrecharge model for the Yongding River restorationproject. The restoration of the Yongding River wasdivided into the reaches between Sanjiadian andLugou Bridge and between Lugou Bridge andQujiadian.

6.3.2 Ecological Restoration of the River ReachesBetween Sanjiadian and Lugou Bridge

A guaranteed basic flow for the river reaches betweenSanjiadian and Lugou Bridge could contribute greatlyto the river habitat and landscape enhancement.


Therefore, ecological restoration should be achievedby the selection of the water quantity and ecologicalhabitat improvement conceptual model.

The following restoration techniques were selectedin three stages: (a) construction of a retention dam atthe lower river reach near Lugou Bridge, (b) seasonaldischarge of water from South China and reuse ofreclaimed water for direct additional discharge, and(c) lining techniques should be used to rebuild theriverbed to decrease leakage within the sandy river-bed. Furthermore, habitat and landscape improve-ments, including river beach vegetation restoration,construction of wetland gardens, and biodiversityenhancement measures, should also be promoted inthe future.

6.3.3 Ecological Restoration of the Lower LugouBridge Reaches

The lower Yongding River reaches are characterized bydune channels and fluvial sediment plains. As the riverdried up, the degradation of the river ecosystem wasenhanced by sand being blown from the river embank-ments into the river bed (Li et al. 2007). A relativelylarge quantity of water was required to guarantee thebasic river flow for ecological needs.

The river reach was not of economic and culturalimportance in comparison to the river reaches betweenSanjiadian and Lugou Bridge. The need for large capitalinvestments therefore restrained the efforts of seekingnew water sources for ecological restoration. Therefore,the ecological substitute conceptual model was the mostpreferred restoration concept, i.e., planting of grass onthe sandy river bed and other low lying lands. Theconstruction of the grass ecosystem completely replacedthe degraded river ecosystem.

Improvements to the surface vegetation and soilcan efficiently control the spreading of sand. Theranking order for sand fixation is usually forest >barren grass land > plantation > sparse grass land >river bed land. The lower reaches of the YongdingRiver included sparse grass land and river bed land.As a measure to fix sand, shrubs, herbage plants, anddesert plants could be used to change the land coverstyle and enhance the plant cover rate (Zhang andXiang 2005). Previous studies confirmed that between20% and 60% coverage of plants could efficientlyhold back the negative effects of wind erosion (Donget al. 1996).

The soil within the lower reaches of the YongdingRiver was inappropriate to resist wind erosion(NDRC 2008). For this region, soil melioration couldincrease the plant survival and coverage rates. Inaddition, water retaining agents and plastic filmmulching were also widely used for the enhancementof plant survival and surface coverage rates (Feng etal. 2006).

6.4 Ecological Restoration of the Wei River

The Wei River has its source near Duohuo Town(Linchuan County, Shanxi Province) and convergeswith the Zhang River in Guantao County (HebeiProvince). This river has a total length of 344.5 kmand a drainage area of 14,970 km2. Before 1950, themean flow rate of the Wei River was between 23 and30 m3/s, which was sufficient to prevent the riverfrom drying up. The Wei River water quantity wassufficient to satisfy the water demand for ecologicalhealth. However, the water quality of the Wei Riverwas relatively poor (EQSSW 2009; You et al. 2009).

Based on monitoring results from 2005, high con-centrations of chemical oxygen demand, ammonia–nitrogen, and volatile hydroxybenzene were themost detrimental contaminants (Zhao and Wan2007). The lower lands of the Wei River floodplainsare occupied by farms and other buildings. Thereduction of the biological habitat, including wet-lands, destroyed the natural habitat. Therefore, directrestoration techniques should be selected to recoverthe Wei River ecosystem (Fig. 5).

Natural runoff, urban wastewater, and water fromthe Yellow River irrigation scheme were the majorsources of inflow for the Wei River (He and Zou2007). Since 1970, the decrease in natural runoff andthe increase of discharge of untreated industrialwastewater and urban sewage into the Wei Riverresulted in a gradual decline of the water quality.Therefore, it is necessary to close the wastewaterdischarge inlets and to treat the river water (Ma et al.2002).

In addition, long-term river pollution resulted inthe accumulation of sediment within the riverbed(Liu et al. 2007). After control of the externalpollution sources is obtained, engineering methodssuch as sediment dredging, and physical and chem-ical coverage should be used to restrain the pollutantrelease.


For the Wei River, many dry depressions located nearLiangxiangpo, Baisipo, Changhongqu, Liuweipo, Xiao-tanpo, and Regupo could be used to store flood water(Yang 2004). The transformation of these retentionbasins into wetlands could greatly control surface waterpollution, purify the river water, improve the interactionbetween the river and its floodplain, create habitats,enhance biodiversity, and construct healthy and stableecosystems. The Wei River mainstream and its branchesprovide good conditions for aquatic community resto-ration, which can be achieved by a combination ofartificial introduction and natural recovery.

6.5 Other Ecological River Restoration Projects

Other key ecological river restoration project recom-mendations (Table 4) for the Haihe River Basin arelisted below:

& Some river reaches such as the one of the upperLuan have sufficient water and are relativelyhealthy in terms of their ecology. Sustainable

management can protect the river ecosystem fromfuture degradation.

& Artificial reconstruction is common for the HaiheRiver mainstream reaches between Sanchakouand Erdaozha, and habitat restoration shouldtherefore be promoted.

& Polluted river reaches between Wenmingzhai andXixinhe and between Yuchengqian and the sea-port should be restored by applying water qualityimprovement techniques.

& The application of more water purification techni-ques for the restorations of the Zhangweixin andTugai rivers should be considered.

& Direct water recharge technologies should beapplied to restore the Dou River, river reachesbetween the Dayang reservoir and the Tang River,and Haihe River reaches between Erdaozha andHaihezha, which have good water quality andrelatively healthy natural habitats.

& The Baigou River, Majia River reaches betweenHeqingfeng County and Xuewangliuzha, andlower reaches of the Luan River are heavily

Table 4 Summary of plain river restoration model of Haihe River basin

Restoration style Restoration model River or river reaches (Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5)

Managementand protection

Management and protection Upper reach of the Luan River

Directly restoration Habitat restoration Beiyun River reach between Niumutun and Tumenlou and HaiheRiver reach between Sanchakou and Erdaozha

Water quality improvement Xixin River reach between Wenmingzhai and its estuary andbetweenYuchengqian and Bohai Sea

Strengthening of purification Beiyun River reaches between Beiguanzha and Niumutun,Wei River, Zhangweixin River, and Tugai River reach betweenits estuary and Yuchengqian

Water recharge Direct water recharge Dou River, Tang River reach between the Dayang reservior andWenren, and Haihe River reach between the Erdaozha andHaihezha

Water quantity and water qualityenhancements

Baigou River, Majia River reach between Qingfeng county, andXuewangliuzha, Luan River reach between PanjiakouReservoir and its estuary

Water quantity and habitat enhancements Yongding River reach between Sanjia and Lugou Bridge,Zhang River, Beiyun River reach between Tumenlou andQujiadian, and Tang River reach between Wenren andBaiyang shallow lake

Combined model Majia River reach between Jindizha and Mazhuangqiao,and between Xuewangliuzha and Bohai Sea

Ecosystemsubstitute

Ecosystem substitute Lower reach of Yongding River at Lugou Bridge, NanjumaRiver, Zhulong River, Jutuo River, Fuyang River, Ziya River,Nanyun River, Jiyun River, and Chaobai River


polluted. The application of water quantity andwater quality improvement techniques should leadto the restoration of these watercourses.

& The habitats of the Zhang River and Tang Riverreaches between Wenren and Baiyangdian havebeen destroyed, and water recharge alone isunlikely to lead to natural restoration. It followsthat combined water quantity and habitat improve-ment methodologies should be used to promoterestoration.

& Water pollution and habitat damage requires theapplication of the combined restoration model forriver reaches between Jindizha and Mazhuangqiaoand between Xuewangliu and the seaport.

& The Nanjuma, Zhulong, Jutuo, Fuyang, Ziya,Nanyun, Jiyun, and Chaobai rivers are dry allyear round. The construction of grassland, lake,and reservoir ecosystems should therefore substi-tute the existing damaged river ecosystem.

7 Conclusions and Recommendations for FurtherResearch

Water resource over-exploitation, wastewater dis-charge, and artificial river course alterations resultedin water shortages, water quality deterioration, declinein biodiversity, and other ecological problems. It wasnecessary to establish a set of restoration modes basedon social and natural boundary conditions, economicdevelopment levels, and existing restoration experi-ence to restore the river ecosystem and to improve theecological environment of the Haihe River basin inChina.

Thirteen river restoration techniques were selectedto restore the plain rivers located in the Haihe Riverbasin based on the analysis of river ecological theoryand engineering practice both in China and abroad.The techniques were classified into water quantityadjustment, water quality purification, and habitatimprovement based on their corresponding functions.

The restoration methodology developed for theHaihe River basin considers predominantly waterquantity, water quality, and habitat issues. Four mainmanagement types were dominant: general manage-ment and protection, direct restoration, water rechargerestoration, and ecological system substitution. Ninebasin-specific actions were identified: management

and protection, habitat restoration, water qualityimprovement, intensified purification, direct waterrecharge, water quantity and habitat improvement,water quantity and quality improvement, and com-pound and ecological substitution.

Approximately 17 out of 21 plain river systemswithin the Haihe River Basin should be ecologicallyrestored by applying water recharge and ecosystemsubstitution techniques. The application of sustainablemanagement technologies could greatly improvefuture adaptive water resource development strategiesin the region.

The proposed generic methodology has its obviouslimitations in terms of the lack of detailed guidelines onindividual restoration techniques. Further research istherefore required to develop an improved methodologyallowing for greater quantification and particularly theuse of quantifiable comparators. This would greatlyassist practitioners in determining the most appropriaterestoration techniques for their particular case studies.

Acknowledgments This study was financially supported bythe Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (Grant No.09ZCGYSF00400), National Key-Projects of Water PollutionControl and Prevention (2008ZX07314-005-011 and2009ZX07209-001), the Commonweal Projects Specific forScientific Research of the Ministry of Water Conservancy ofChina (Grant No. 200801135), the Open Fund of ChinaInstitute of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Research andNational Basic Research Program of China (Grant No.2006CB403408). Miklas Scholz is a Visiting Professor atNankai University. Bilateral collaboration is financially sup-ported by The Royal Society. The authors greatly appreciatedsupport provided by S. Y. Hou, Y. Xie, W. Shi, X. W. Xu, L. M.Wang, and T. F. Z. Tang.

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