## 5 Conclusions  
This study focuses on the main stem of the Tarim River, specifically the Xinqiman-Kelelik reach, and extracts long-term time series data on riverbank and thalweg evolution based on Landsat satellite imagery from 1993 to 2024.  
A systematic analysis was conducted on indicators such as channel sinuosity across different periods, migration rates of maximum thalweg points, width variations of representative cross-sections, and lateral erosion and deposition areas along the riverbanks, in order to assess river regime evolution and changes in planform morphology. The main conclusions are as follows:  
Between 1993 and 2024, the main flow of the river exhibited bidirectional lateral oscillation along the north-south axis. During this period, the length of the thalweg increased from 142.9 km to 171.9 km, and the sinuosity index rose from 1.95 to 2.34, indicating an overall increase in channel meandering. The maximum lateral shift of the thalweg, reaching 2619.4 m, occurred near Kurquol, where channel straightening due  
Figure 10: Changes in the thalweg near ecological water diversion shuices along the Xinqiman–Kelik river reach.  
to meander cutoff was observed, posing a significant threat to flood control safety for adjacent villages.  
Over the past 32 years, the cross-sectional width of the Xinqiman-Kelelik reach of the Tarim River has shown a pronounced narrowing trend. The average channel width decreased from 784.9 m in 1993 to 506.9 m in 2024, representing an average reduction rate of 35.42%. This channel constriction has led to increased vertical incision, rising water levels, and accelerated flow velocities, thereby heightening the risk of flood disasters during the flood season.  
Between 1993 and 2024, the Xinqiman-Kelelik reach of the Tarim River exhibited distinct erosion and deposition patterns along its banks. On the northern bank, adjacent to the Tianshan Mountains, the areas of erosion and deposition were 5.47 km\({}^{2}\) and 13.19 km\({}^{2}\), respectively, indicating a dominant depositional trend. Conversely, the southern bank, bordering the Taklamakan Desert, experienced 13.18 km\({}^{2}\) of erosion and 8.69 km\({}^{2}\) of deposition, reflecting a prevailing erosional state. Overall, the river reach exhibited a net depositional condition, with a total deposition area of 3.23 km\({}^{2}\), and the riverbanks showed a general southward migration.  
The evolution of river dynamics near the eco-diversion gates of the Xinqiman-Kelelik reach of the Tarim River is driven by both natural flow and sediment forces (concave bank erosion, convex bank deposition) and human activities (dam/gate regulation, bank protection). This caused river channel contraction at four gate areas, with the thalweg moving towards the gates at up to 79.6 m/a, threatening gate foundations and causing local water-level rises. At the Wenhuaqui Ecological Diversion Sluice, dredging is needed to maintain diversion efficiency. It is recommended to stabilize concave banks and guide sediment deposition on convex banks to ensure ecological and agricultural irrigation safety.  
Conceptualization, Z.L. and L.L.; methodology, Z.L. and J.L.; software, Z.L. and J.L.; validation, Z.L., L.L. and J.L.; formal analysis, L.L.; investigation, L.L.; resources, Z.L. and L.L.; data curation, Z.L.; writing--original draft preparation, Z.L.; writing--review and editing, L.L.; visualization, Z.L.; supervision, L.L. and J.L.; project administration, L.L.; funding acquisition, L.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by Tianshan Elite Youth Talent Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2024 TSYCCX0039), the Key R&D project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, grant number 2022B03024-2 and the 2024 research project of the Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Safety and Water Disaster Prevention (ZDSYS-YJS-2024-57).  
Not applicable.  
The data presented in this study are all available in the manuscript.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.