Role of Water Management in Ecological Restoration and Economic Development in Arid Regions: Taken the Lower Reaches of Tarim River as an Example

Water resource is a crucial factor in social and economic development and ecological protection in arid and semi-arid areas. The unbridled development and use of water resources in the lower reaches of the Tarim River over the last 50 years have led to a serious ecological degradation: (1) groundwater level drop. (2) water quality deterioration. (3) land desertification and frequent natural disasters occurrence. Meanwhile, the environmental degradation caused some negative effects on local agricultural development: (1) soil salinization declines agricultural areas. (2) deterioration water quality declines agricultural production. (3) natural disasters cause high economic loss. However, after watering, the degraded ecology is becoming obviously reversible. The natural vegetation has a favorable response in certain range of the water channel. The areas arable land increased greatly; furthermore, the total value of agricultural production is 1293.13 × 104 Dollars, increased by 128% after adoption of new management of water. Livestock population has experienced a growth trend as a result of watering. The results indicate that favorable eco-environment has an obvious positive function in the local economic development. Based on those facts, this paper analyzed the relationship between eco-environment and economic development. Some issues are pointed out in water resource management. Scientific water management countermeasures are discussed in Tarim River.