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The Distribution and Evolution of Groundwater Level Depths and Groundwater Sustainability in the Hexi Corridor over the Last Five Years

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  • Le Cao

    (Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
    Key Laboratory of Groundwater Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shijiazhuang 050061, China)

  • Xuequan Liu

    (Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China)

  • Pucheng Zhu

    (Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China)

  • Lifang Wang

    (Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China)

Abstract

Groundwater overexploitation for agricultural irrigation is prone to lead to numerous ecological concerns. This study delved into the present distribution and recent trend of groundwater levels in the plain areas of the Hexi Corridor in Northwest China according to the groundwater level depth (GWD) data from 264 monitoring wells in the Shiyang River Basin (SYB) and 107 in the Shule River Basin (SLB), recorded annually in April from 2019 to 2023. The key findings include the following: (1) Over the five-year span, the SYB’s GWD experienced change rates (CRs) ranging from −12.17 to 9.11 m/a (average: −0.13 m/a), with the number of monitoring wells showing increased and decreased GWDs accounting for 50% and 50%, respectively. By contrast, the SLB’s GWD exhibited CRs ranging from −1.87 to 2.06 m/a (average: 0.01 m/a), with the number of monitoring wells showing increased and decreased GWDs accounting for 52% and 48%, respectively; (2) the Wuwei (CR = 0.09 m/a) and Changning (0.58 m/a) basins in the SYB and the Yumen (0.06 m/a), Guazhou (0.05 m/a), and Huahai (0.03 m/a) basins in the SLB, witnessed rising groundwater levels. In contrast, the Minqin Basin (0.09 m/a) in the SYB and the southern Dunhuang Basin (0.04 m/a) in the SLB witnessed declines in the groundwater levels; (3) The groundwater sustainability assessment showed that the groundwater is still extremely unsustainable. This study’s insights are instrumental in targeted treatment, as well as the preparation and adjustment of sustainable groundwater protection strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Le Cao & Xuequan Liu & Pucheng Zhu & Lifang Wang, 2024. "The Distribution and Evolution of Groundwater Level Depths and Groundwater Sustainability in the Hexi Corridor over the Last Five Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2527-:d:1359850
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yang, Linshan & Feng, Qi & Lu, Tiaoxue & Adamowski, Jan F. & Yin, Zhenliang & Hatami, Shadi & Zhu, Meng & Wen, Xiaohu, 2023. "The response of agroecosystem water use efficiency to cropland change in northwest China’s Hexi Corridor," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    2. Xunzhou Chunyu & Feng Huang & Ziqiang Xia & Danrong Zhang & Xi Chen & Yongyu Xie, 2019. "Assessing the Ecological Effects of Water Transport to a Lake in Arid Regions: A Case Study of Qingtu Lake in Shiyang River Basin, Northwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, January.
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