Abstract: Water resource utilization is the key factor for the social and economic development of Songnen plain because of its ecological fragile zone between arid and semiarid area. A case study in Huolin River basin located in the southwestern Songnen plain shows the environmental features of local water resource and existing. Based on the constrained factors on the water resources utilization, an index system has been set up in order to evaluate the water resources carring capacity. This index system is composed of 9 indexes in three items,which includes the natural condition of water resources forming, water resources development and socialeconomical situation. Factor analysis about the water carrying capacity of the Huolin River basin shows that the water resources carring capacity is mainly controlled by the forming conditions of water resources and the water resources utilization situation.The evaluation result about the water resources carring capacity is the essence of the sustainable development of water resources.

Key words: Huolin River basin, water resources, carrying capacity, index, factor analysis