Source of the research subject: The research subject was entrusted and supported by the Ministry of Water Resources.

　　Study period: From January 1997 to June 2004

　　Award: The research subject won a Second Award of Scientific and Technological Progress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2005.

　　Main accomplishing scientist: 2 Chen Xi

　　Brief introduction of the research subject

　　Based on considering the international forefront scientific issues of sustainable management of water resources and the momentous requirement of water resources management in arid and semiarid areas in China, in the study some landmark important innovative achievements were achieved: (1) The quantitative system info of sustainable management of water resources was firstly put forward in the world; (2) Some new viewpoints and new methods of distributed hydrological models applicable in arid areas where there are no available data or the available data are insufficient were developed; (3) The multiple-part modeling methods of water volume—water quality—ecology coupling system were firstly summed up and put forward at home and abroad; (4) The study results have been applied in the world-famous Tarim River, Heihe River and Bosten Lake basins, and considerable social effects and economic returns have been made. The application proves that the study results have high academic and applied values and can significantly contribute to sustainable management of water resources.