The groundwater respond width after intermittent water transportation and restoration area prediction of Populus euphratica in the lower reaches of Tarim River, Xinjiang

The Tarim River is the longest continental river in China, and the “Green Corridor” is located in its lower reaches between the Taklimakan Desert (the second largest mobile desert in the world) and the Kumtag Desert. Populus euphratica is the only arbor in the “Green Corridor” and it has a significant effect in conserving and improving the ecology and environment in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. When Daxihaizi Reservoir was built in 1972, the length of 320km riverway in lower reaches of Tarim River had no flow. Groundwater table decreased continually since then. Along with water transportation again from the MAY 2000, groundwater table is beginning to rise. The groundwater monitoring section located in Yingsu village and has a distance of 61km to Daxihaizi Reservoir. This article based on the monitoring data of Yingsu section from the first to the seventh water transportation and then the groundwater numerical model was established by Processing Modflow. Length and width of the model is 4.0km and 6.525km respectively. The process of groundwater response was simulated well again. In addition, the author made a forecast of ten years under intermittent water transportation. The results showed that the transverse respond range of the groundwater will be 3km from the river bank. As a whole, the water transportation has the significant role to the restoration of Populus euphratica. The author analyses the relationship between volume of water transportation and the area of Populus euphratica in historical times. In the end, the restorable area of Populus euphratica below the Daxaihai Reservoir is forecasted on the condition of intermittent water transportation.