China on Monday launched its 2026 water-sediment regulation operation on the Yellow River as the Xiaolangdi Water Conservancy Project increased water discharge to flush accumulated sediment downstream.

According to the plan, this year's operation will be carried out through the coordinated management of multiple reservoirs along the Yellow River.

Known for carrying relatively little water but a large amount of sediment, the Yellow River has long faced challenges from sediment buildup in its lower reaches. Over time, deposited sediment raises the riverbed, creating the risk of a "suspended river" that flows above the surrounding ground and poses significant flood-control challenges.

Located at the outlet of the final gorge section in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the Xiaolangdi Water Conservancy Project plays a key role in regulating water and sediment before they enter the lower river plain. The project controls about 91.2% of the river's runoff and nearly all of its sediment transport.

Each year before the peak flood season, Xiaolangdi releases large volumes of water to scour the river channel. The powerful flow helps deepen and widen the main channel, improve flood discharge capacity and reduce the risk of levee breaches.

The operation also helps optimize water allocation during the flood season, supplying irrigation water for downstream farmland and ecological water for wetlands, while supporting flood control and ecosystem conservation.

Water-sediment regulation has become a key component of Yellow River management, helping maintain the river's flood-control capacity and ecological health.