Abstract: Yellow River is the second large river in China and it is also famous in the world as the abundant sand river. The ecological-environment is very fragile in Yellow River Basin due to soil sali-nization and disastrous sandstorms on the upper reaches, soil erosion on the middle reaches and the “Hanging River” on the lower reaches which induced the calamity of flood, water logging, running dry and drought. Because of rather lack of water and water quality problem in the basin, quantities of water resources were calculated and balance of water supply and demand in counties and cities as well as the potential capacity of groundwater development were predicted. Base flow separation method and isotope technique were adopted to study the cyclic relationship between river water and groundwater. Finally, the renewable capability of groundwater resources and the ways of groundwater sustainable development and utilization in Yellow River Basin were probed.

Key words: Yellow River Basin, potential capacity of groundwater development, groundwater renewable capability, groundwater sustainable development and utilization