Evaluation of River Health and Human Well-Being in the Heihe River Basin Using the SMI-P Method: A Case Study of the Zhangye City

Abstract

Oasis cities are central to the economic and social development as well as ecological sustainability in the arid region in Northwest China. This study aims to explore the balance between river health and human well-being of local residents in the Hexi River oasis, while also enhancing the effectiveness of water resource management within the basin. Utilizing the SMI-P method, we construct a ‘Happy River’ evaluation system that integrates goals, criteria, and indicators. We analyze the evaluation index system for ‘Happy River’ construction in the study area, specifically the Zhangye City section of the Heihe River Basin, and derive a comprehensive evaluation value for the ‘Happy River’ initiative. Additionally, we assess the fit attribute of the evaluation system using the coupled coordination degree model and harmony degree theory, thereby enhancing the rationality of the evaluation method and ensuring a more thorough examination process. The results indicate that from 2017 to 2021, the urban wastewater treatment rate and the degree of water quality excellence in the Zhangye City section of the Black River Basin represent the highest and lowest weights, respectively, within the evaluation system. This suggests that improving the quality of the urban water environment has emerged as the primary factor influencing the assessment of the Happy River during the construction of the Happy River and Happy Lake. Moreover, ecological health is identified as the most significant criterion in the evaluation system, serving as the main factor affecting residents’ perceptions of happiness related to rivers and lakes. Over the five-year period, the happiness level in the study area improved from “relatively happy” to “very happy”, while the coupling coordination degree increased from 0.605 to 0.687, indicating a gradual progression toward coordinated development. Simultaneously, the harmony degree rose from 0.527 to 0.601, suggesting a tendency towards a condition of basic harmony. Additionally, the happiness index increased from 76.71 to 81.97, transitioning from a state of happiness to one of very high happiness. The composite index also improved, rising from 0.459 to 0.526, which demonstrates the preliminary success of the ‘Happy River’ construction efforts in the study area. The evaluation system and model of the ‘Happy River’, along with the final results of this study, can serve as theoretical references for the development of similar initiatives in typical characteristic rivers within the arid region of Northwest China.