Optimal Operation of Coupling Coordination for the Integrated System Considering Water Resources, Socioeconomic Development, and Ecological Environment

Sustainable river basin management requires an integrated approach that considers interactions among hydrological resources, socioeconomic development, and ecological protection. Existing studies have mainly focused on evaluating system development and coupling coordination, with limited attention to optimization-based regulation. This study conducts optimal operation of coupling coordination for the integrated system considering water resources, socioeconomic, and ecological environment. Initially, an indicator framework integrating multiple dimensions is developed to characterize system performance, followed by the application of the coupling coordination degree model to assess subsystem evolution and overall coordination. The obstacle degree model is further employed to diagnose dominant limiting factors and determine adjustable variables with regulatory potential. Finally, an optimization model is formulated to maximize the coupling coordination degree under constraints related to total water consumption, green ecological development, and regional feasibility, and NSGA-II is applied to obtain optimal regulation schemes. The results showed that the coupling coordination degree increased from 0.72 to 0.83 (+15.2%). Under the proposed operation strategy, the coupling coordination degree was further improved across all seven league-level cities, with average increases of 0.007–0.012 during the operation period. Optimization further improved coordination in all cities, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed framework for sustainable basin management. The proposed framework supports coordinated development and sustainable resource management in the Yellow River Basin.