Abstract: In order to explore the ecological effects of the water diversion project to restore the degradated wetland in the Yellow River delta, the species composition, density, coverage, frequency and important values were investigated and the soil properties such as soil water contents, pH, organic matter, the total nitrogen and the total phosphor etc. were measured with experimental methods in restored areas and the unrestored areas respectively. The results show that the vegetation community has developed towards the positive succession with the improvement of the water condition. The soil water contents and the soil organic matter contents are higher in the restored areas than in the unrestored areas, while the soil pH is reduced. The soil total nitrogen content and the total phosphorus content are not changed significantly. The ecological environment of the degradated wetland is improved to some extent through the diversion project, and the fresh water resource is still the dominant factor to restore the degradated wetland.

Key words: Degradation wetland, Vegetable community, Soil properties, Yellow River Delta, Degradated wetland, Vegetation, Soil, The Yellow River delta