Practice and Thinking on the Interconnected River System Network of the Plain River Network Region in South China
南方河网地区河湖水系连通的实践与思考

The Plain River Network Region (PRNR) is the important economic region in China due to its high population density, abundant resources, and intensive industry. With development of urbanization and industrialization,a series of problems on water resources and environment have arisen, such as river-blocking, lake shrinking, flood threat increasing, water pollution worsening and drought resistance lacking, which have resulted in significant adverse effects on flood control, water supply, and ecology health. The new idea of the Interconnected River System Network (IRSN) will be of significance to optimize water resources allocation, abate water pollution, improve the environment, and further to alleviate adverse impacts of human activities and climate change. In this paper, the different cases of IRSN encompassed three main categories,i.e., the easing water shortage, improving water environment, and promoting comprehensive function, were comprehensively reviewed. Results indicate that 1) the water transfer projects play a fundamental role in guaranteeing water supply for city and industry production and agriculture yield, and have been interconnected river network for multi-source water supply, ecological restoration, and environmental improvement; 2) With the development of society, the IRSN Should have multiple objectives not only single function; 3)The IRSN will expand to include benefits of flood control, water supply, and the environment. The key issues of the IRSN strategy in PRNR were discussed as follows: connected demand and premise of the IRSN plan should be demonstrated; the basic requirement should be satisfied; the connected pattern should be chosen according to local conditions; and the guaranteeing system should be built. Theory and technical studies on IRSN projects in the PRNR should be strengthened, especially on water cycles mechanism, trend forecasting and scientific adjustment, water resource allocation, and river health and risk management.