Progress on reservoir recreation research based on English literature and implications for China

As public demand for recreation grows, global research on reservoir recreation has gained increasing attention. Using bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science, 386 English-language journal articles were examined. Results indicate: ① The number of publications exhibits a wave-like growth trend, with research progress divided into three phases: Emergence (before 2000), Development (2000–2012), and Deepening (after 2012). Research themes have evolved from foundational understanding of reservoir recreation to multidisciplinary development; ② Key content centers on four dimensions: recreational value, recreational experience, recreational impacts, and recreational management, reflecting phased differences in reservoir and dam recreational utilization. ③ Current reservoir recreation utilization in China remains low. Recognizing the recreational value within multifunctional reservoir utilization is essential, with measures achievable through three pathways: legal empowerment, system coordination, and funding guarantees. This research offers theoretical insights for enhancing multifunctional utilization of Chinese reservoirs and advancing standardized management of reservoir recreation.