Water Conservation

Shennongjia is a watershed between the Yangtze River and the Hanjiang River in Hubei. Here four major river systems are nurtured, namely, the Xiangxi River, the Yandu River, the Nanhe River, and the Duhe River. This territory boasts 317 large and small rivers, including one with a drainage area of over 1,000 km². The average annual total rainfall is 3.644 billion m³, the mean annual runoff is 726.5 mm, and the mean annual total runoff is 2.204 billion m³. There are 2.2-22.5 billion m³ of water resources in total with a per capita volume of 13,591 m³.
(1) Nanhe River system: The Nanhe River is a tributary of the Hanjiang River. It originates from the Shennong Valley in Shennongding Scenic Area and is one of the sources of the Hanjiang River. The Nanhe River system has 55 tributaries and 57 seasonal streams, totaling 112 small and large streams. In the Shennongjia Forestry District the Nanhe River extends from the Guanmen River Mouth to the Yutou River Mouth, with a drainage area of 533 km², an average annual runoff of 24.53m³/s, and a total drop of 2,555.2 m. The theoretical reserves of hydropower resources register 10,830kW.
(2) Duhe River system: Duhe River system has 62 large and small streams in the forestry district. 29 of them are tributaries, and 33 seasonal streams. The Duhe River is also a tributary of the Hanjiang River, originating from the northern foot of the Shennongjia Mountains. Its highest source is Guanyinyan of the Yinyu River at an altitude of 2,300 m and its lowest point lies in the Zhangheba of the Dongxi River at an altitude of 608 m. With a total drop of 1,692 m in the territory, the river flows into the Hanjiang River through Zhushan County, Fangxian County, Shiyan City, and Yunxian County.
(3) Xiangxi River system: There are 95 large and small streams, including 43 tributaries and 52 seasonal streams. The Xiangxi River is a tributary of the Yangtze River. It originates from the southern foot of the Shennongjia Mountains and flows into the Yangtze River through Xingshan and Zigui Counties. The drainage basin of Xiangxi River  mainly includes Muyu Town, Xinhua Township, Changfang Village in Songluo Township, and Honghua Village in Muyu Town. With a total length of 316.554 km, the Xiangxi River has a drainage area of 889.08 km², accounting for about 26.8% of the total area of Shennongjia Forestry District.
(4) Yandu River system: As a first-level tributary of the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, the Yandu River system has 48 large and small streams, including 20 tributaries and 28 seasonal streams. The Yandu River system runs through the entire territory of Xiaguping Tujia Ethnic Township in the southwestern part of Shennongjia Forestry District. With a total length of 115.333 km, it has a drainage area of 216.05 km², accounting for about 6.64% of the total area of Shennongjia Forestry District.