Assessing the Long‐Term Trends and Impacts of Water Resource System Resilience in the Yangtze River Basin

ABSTRACT Resilience is a critical issue for water resource systems. Over the past few decades, these systems have been significantly disrupted by natural disasters and human activities, resulting in substantial economic losses. This study develops a resilience evaluation framework based on a comprehensive literature review and applies it to assess the resilience of the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). The results reveal a significant improvement in the basin's water resources resilience from 2010 to 2023, particularly in the upper and middle reaches. However, the overall resilience level remained below 0.6, indicating moderate resilience. While hydraulic infrastructure improved resilience in the upper and middle sections during dry seasons, it had adverse effects on downstream areas. Economic factors were identified as key contributors to resilience gaps, underscoring their importance in ensuring sustainable water resource management. Critical factors influencing resilience included total water resources, the number of large and medium‐sized reservoirs, and urban storage capacity. These findings offer valuable insights for developing targeted strategies and policies to enhance water resource resilience in the YRB.