According to the water resources eco-footprint model, the SD (system dynamics) model of water resources utilization of the Zhangye Basin (hereinafter referred to as ZB) is constructed, with which five different scenarios are designed to evaluate and predict the water resources eco-footprint and biocapacity of status quo (2000-2020) and future (2021-2050) in ZB. The results show that as for status quo, the average values of per capita water resources eco-footprint, biocapacity and ecological gains and losses are 3.517, 0.272 and -3.245 hm2/capita, and the average values of water resources ecological stress index and eco-footprint intensity are 12.969 and 2.822 hm2/104 RMB, respectively. The agricultural water use occupies an dominant portion in the calculation of the water resources eco-footprint in ZB, but the proportion is decreasing. Therefore, the focus of water conservation in ZB lays in the agricultural field, as it has a great water-saving potential. The eco-footprint intensity of water resources shows a significant downward trend, with a drop rate of 90.21%, indicating that the water resources utilization efficiency in ZB is improving; however, its water resources utilization pressure is relatively high. On average, the per capita ecological footprint of water resources in different scenarios of the ZB during the prediction period is greater than the per capita ecological carrying capacity of water resources, resulting in ecological losses of per capita water resources. The average values of water resources ecological stress index and eco-footprint intensity under the five scenarios are 12.932, 13.483, 10.055, 12.698 and 9.846, and 0.281, 0.206, 0.201, 0.281 and 0.196 hm2/104 RMB, respectively. In the future, the water resources utilization in ZB will still in an unsafe situation. From 2021 to 2050, the ZB cannot effectively alleviate the shortage of water resource utilization, and a development plan that balances economic development and water resources protection needs to be adopted. It is recommended that the relevant government departments should adopt scenario ZS5. In the future, the development of water resources utilization in ZB requires the joint efforts of all society and various departments. Continuous improvement of water resources utilization, vigorous promotion of the popularization and application of water conservation measures and technologies are the key to the sustainability of water resources utilization.