Damming-Induced Hydrogeomorphic Transition in Downstream Channel and Delta: A Case Study of the Yellow River, China

River dynamics and sediment budget play a crucial role in shaping geomorphic variability of river channels and deltaic environments. Basin-scale human activities, including dam construction, induce alterations in river flow and sediment dynamics in the downstream channels and to the delta, and quantification of sediment source shift along downstream fluvial-deltaic systems is often uncertain. This study analyzed the river regime changes and sediment dynamics of a typical sediment-laden fluvial-deltaic system—the lower Yellow River (LYR) and the Yellow River Delta (YRD) —to assess the integrated effects of dam impoundment and dam-based river regulation schemes on downstream hydrogeomorphic transition processes. The Xiaolangdi (XLD) Reservoir, which was completed in 2000 with a total storage of 12.7 km³, is the final reservoir located in the middle Yellow River and plays an important role in flood control and energy supply. Following the full operation of XLD Reservoir, the relationship between water and sediment in the LYR became more balanced, with a drastic decline of sediment input and seasonal migrations of floodwaters. The interannual variability of water levels at downstream hydrological stations indicated a geomorphic transition in the LYR from net deposition to erosion state. The building of the XLD Reservoir caused a downstream shift of river-originated sediment source and 48% of the total sediment delivered to the YRD was derived from the LYR. However, the reduced sediment delivery since 2000 has still triggered net land loss regarding the YRD system, with a strong spatial variability which is dominated by the reduced accretion at the active delta front and erosion at the abandoned river mouth and coastal engineering zone. Compared with other environmental factors, the construction of upstream dams contributed the most to the decline of downstream sediment delivery over the past decades. The challenge for sustainable sediment management is the gradual decline of scouring efficiency as the riverbed sediment is coarsening. Our study suggests that future river regulation strategies should consider the geomorphic sustainability of both the LYR and the YRD system.