The study looked at how keeping coarse sediment in certain areas of the Yellow River can reduce sediment buildup. By analyzing data and using math, researchers found that holding back coarse sediment can cut sedimentation by half in the confluence region and the lower Yellow River. If the amount of coarse sediment entering the lower Yellow River had been controlled between 15% to 20% from 1974 to 1990, sedimentation could have been reduced by 65% to 80%, mainly by decreasing coarse sediment in the lower Yellow River.