Abstract:The exploitation of water resources and the corresponding environmental problems in the Tarim River during the past 5 decades are mainly analyzed. The causation of environmental problems including the reduction of volume of the inflow from the source tributaries, increased salinity, decreased flow to the lower reaches, lowering of lake levels, drawdown of groundwater levels and aggravation of desertification are studied. The countermeasure for protecting the environment is put forward as follows: Adhere the principle of coordinate development between the ecology and the economy and between the upper reaches and the lower reaches, achieve the unified management of water resources in the watershed, restrict the water diversion in the source stream areas, reduce the inefficient water consumption in the upper and middle reaches of the mainstream, guarantee the basic water consumption in the lower reaches, and achieve the integrality of the aqueous process and the sustainable utilization of the water resources in the watershed.