Medium-sized channel shaping in the lower Yellow River due to water–sediment regulation

Abstract The Yellow River (YR) is famous for its ‘hanging river’ due to the high sedimentation rate in lower reaches. Reservoir sediment retention (RSR) and water–sediment regulation (WSR) of Xiaolangdi (XLDR) contribute mitigating siltation adjusting bankfull channel geometry (LYR). However, few studies have been conducted quantify contribution RSR WSR medium-sized shaping. In this paper, we analyzed temporal spatial variations discharge (BFD) LYR, established empirical expressions between BFD previous five-year average above 2,000 m3/s incoming coefficient during flood seasons, then constructed three different water scenarios XLDR shaping LYR. Calculated results indicated that accounted alone 68%–94% shaping, with contributing 6%–32%. recovery channels increased time became stabilized eventually. Along such also from 68% 97% eventually narrow reaches, reaching over 90%. will lay a solid technical foundation XLDR, river downstream reservoir, disposal YR.