Low-impact developments (LIDs) have emerged as effective strategies for mitigating the adverse impacts of urbanization on river environments. This study aims to enhance river environment quality by examining the effects of LIDs and land use/cover change (LUCC) in the context of river environment and hydrological conditions. Using the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) in an urban river setting, the study investigates the impact of LIDs on urban river water volume. An analysis of river runoff quality and quantity is conducted, followed by the development of an optimal river water regulation scheme through a multi-objective ecological scheduling model. The results reveal that the incorporation of LIDs can substantially decrease river runoff yield for varying recurrence periods of design rainstorms. Consequently, the flood peak reduction rate ranged from 10% to 18%, and the flood volume experienced a reduction of 10–29% in the study area. The combination of river water regulation, LIDs and LUCC leads to a decrease in river water volume within the lower river channel by up to 47% especially in a typical dry year and dry season, accompanied by a decline in river flow velocity and water self-purification capacity. A risk-based multi-objective stochastic optimization model is employed to ensure sustainable management of urban river runoff in terms of both quantity and quality. This research contributes to the advancement of knowledge in sustainable basin management practices and offers practical insights for policymakers involved in the management of water resources and environmental conservation in semi-arid basins.