The main objective of this work is to discuss the cumulative effects on flow regime with the construction of cascade reservoirs. A revised IHA (indicators of hydrologic alteration) method was developed by using a projection pursuit method based on the real-coded accelerated genetic algorithm in this study. Through this method, IHA parameters with a high contribution to hydrological-alteration evaluation could be selected out and given high weight to reduce the redundancy among the IHA metrics.

In the mid-1990s, the losses caused by ecological environment destruction every year in China accounted for more than 8 % of GDP. When economic prosperity comes with serious environmental damage, the false image of national growth emerges, which will cause distortion to the evaluation of water resources carrying capacity. This paper proposes a quantitative technical route combined with a water resources balance sheet, which is able to fully reflect the sustainable development theory.

This paper analyzed basic principles and existing flaws of water resources value theories and accounting methods, proposed to primarily account water resources depletion cost, water environment degradation cost and ecological water occupation cost from three aspects, i.e. water resources, water environment and water eco-system. It provides a reference for advancing water resources management, realizing scientific and rational allocation of water resources.