The Yellow River's flow renewability has decreased over the past 50 years. This means the river's ability to replenish its flow has changed. The decline in renewability is linked to lower annual precipitation, higher air temperatures, and increased water and soil conservation measures like land terracing and tree planting. The study found that as these conservation efforts increased, the river's renewability decreased. This suggests that human activities aimed at conserving water and soil may have unintended consequences on the Yellow River's flow.