Abstract: It is difficult for the general information gathering channels to get effective information required for research on international rivers, it is necessary and critical to explore new method of information collection in order to investigate hydrological water resources in some places where the data lack. In the million information of Internet, emergence of the platform- Google Earth (GE) provides a “scene” mode of remote information retrieval for environmental resources, traffic planning and many other fields. This article probed into the application framework and assessment method used for water resources development and utilization in the area with lack of needful data based on the GE platform, such research was applied to the middlelower reaches of Balkhash Lake basin, the results show that the GE platform can be used as effective information gathering means for water resources development and utilization in area with lack of needful data. The proposed framework, application flow chart and assessment method have preferable maneuverability in this disquisition; the basic pattern of investigation area that was formed in early 1990, namely the middlelower reaches of Ili River were regarded as main body, Junggar region and northern small rivers of Balkhash Lake were considered as important water system area; with the dramatic fluctuation in economic and social development of the investigation area, his water consumption has undergone the evolvement pattern of “growth-peak-acute reduction-restorative growth”. Now it is expected to have resumed its water consumption to the level in the mid 1980[JP8]’s[JP], which is around 6.5 billion m3.

Key words: area with lack of data, Google Earth, middlelower reaches of Balkhash basin, water resources development and utilization