In March 1999, the Yellow River Water Conservancy Commission issued the first water withdrawal quota directive and started the water withdrawal control plan for the whole basin. This policy was extended from the main Yellow River to its tributaries in 2006. In the same year, the State Council issued Water Withdrawal and Water Resource Fee Collection Rules, marking a new chapter in water management policy based on economic measures such as water pricing and resource fees.
Trade in water user rights between various sectors was observed in some provinces.