Shortage of water resourses in the reaches of the Yellow River co-exists with low efficiency of water use and waste of water resources. Under these circumstances, two approaches can be introduced to soften the contradiction between demand and supply of water resources in these areas. First of all, large-scale irrigation projects should be built to increase supply of water resourses. Efficiency of water use should be raised and waste of water resources reduced to realize a natural balance. However, to really upgrade the efficiency of water use and lessen waste, the current means of water administration must be adjusted to develop a demand-based pattern of water administration whose core is the water right and whose aim is the marketization of water resources.

the reaches of the Yellow River; shortage of water resources; means of water resources control