Pic story: ecological water transport completed in Yuli, NW China's Xinjiang to help plantation along Tarim River get effective irrigation

2022-July-29 11:07 By: GMW.cn

There are more than 800,000 mu of natural Populus euphratica forests in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. These Populus euphratica forests are distributed in the middle and lower reaches of Tarim River and the lower reaches of Kongque River, forming a "green corridor" in Taklimakan Desert.

In the vicinity of Ala River, a tributary of Tarim River, excavators and forklifts are digging flood diversion channels, and 15 management and protection personnel are fighting in the front line to carry out water diversion work. According to Aili Niyazi, head of the state-owned forestry administration of Lixian Forestry and Grassland Bureau, six dams have been dug and 30 kilometers of rivers have been cleared. At present, about 10,000 mu of ecological water transport has been completed. With the inflow of water from Tarim River and Kongque River, Yuli County Forestry and Grassland Bureau carried out water diversion and irrigation work in Tuobuxie Grassland Restoration Center, and wild Populus euphratica forest, apocynum venetum and red willow in the area now can have ecological water. Wumaier Sidike, a member of the Kaerquga Management and Protection Station of Lixian Forestry and Grassland Bureau, said gladly that where the water can't come, ditches are dug to release it, so that vegetation can have water supply."

Tarim River and Kongquehe River Basin are two important ecological water transport areas in 2022.

"At present, we have excavated 30 kilometers of flood diversion canals, set up five barrage dams and dismantled six original dams," Yuan Longjun, Party Secretary of Lixian Forestry and Grassland Bureau, said. This year, we expect to irrigate 150,000 mu in Tuobuxie area of Dunkuotan Township, Yuli County, and 50,000 mu in the lower reaches of Aksupu Township in Kongquehe River Basin. The Populus euphratica grasslands in these two areas have been struggling for years by now to get an effective irrigation and groundwater supplement."