This article delves into studying the water quality and quantity of the Yellow River, exploring how its water supports both human needs and the river's natural health. The researchers developed a method to assess how well the water meets environmental requirements while being used by people. By analyzing three years of data, they found that the amount of water available in the river increased each year, with some extra water allocated for the environment. However, this extra water wasn't enough to fully meet the needs of the river's ecosystems, causing problems for the Yellow River's health.