Yunnan's water resources under full protection

As a water-rich province, Yunnan is famous for its nine plateau lakes, including the Fuxian lake, which is the largest deep-water freshwater lake among China's inland lakes in terms of water storage. However, the nine plateau lakes once faced many conservation problems these years. On the occasion of the World Water Day, let's have a review of Yunnan's effrots in protecting these nine plateau lakes over the years.

1. Dianchi

The Dianchi lake, also known as the "Kunming lake", is the largest lake in southwest China. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, in order to restore and enhance the ecological wetland function of the lakeshore, Kunming government implemented many projects to improve the pollution interception and emission reduction capacity of Dianchi and perfect its supervision and management mechanism.

The water quality of Dianchi has improved from poor Class V to IV, achieving the best water quality in the past 30 years. Meanwhile, 2,442 mu (1,628,000 m2) of ecological wetlands in the Caohai area and 3,656 mu (2,437,333 m2) of wetlands outside Dianchi were built and upgraded respectively, which accelerated the recovery of lakeside biodiversity around Dianchi.

2.Erhai

Erhai is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province and one of the most famous resorts in Yunnan Province. To protect the Erhai lake, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture systematically implemented the Erhai lake protection project during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, while invested 33 billion yuan in the protection and treatment of the Erhai lake.

The actions above enabled the water quality of the Erhai lake to be maintained at a stable level of Class III, with an overall evaluation of good lakes. In 2020, the water quality of the Erhai lake was stable and good, and its evaluation of the national examination section is excellent.

3. Fuxian Lake

Fuxian is the largest water storage lake and the largest plateau deep water lake in China. "During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Yuxi city has established a unified management system for the Fuxian lake and implemented the relevant protection regulations, which has enabled the overall water quality of the Fuxian lake to remain at the Class I level.

4. Xingyun Lake

Xingyun is a trophic lake, and it is also an early lake in Yunnan Province where fish are bred and stocked by professional departments. For the protection and management of the Xingyun lake, The host city of Yuxi carries out ecological planting along the lake, farming pollution load reduction and other projects, which has rid the lake of poor water quality.[page]

5. Qilu Lake

The Qilu lake is the main water body of people’s daily life and socio-economic development in Tonghai county, central Yunnan’s Yuxi city. Qilu’s water quality is set to reach the national standards.

6. Chenghai

Chenghai, located in Yongsheng county, north west Yunnan’s Lijiang city, is the world's largest spirulina aquaculture production base. After targeted protection and treatment, Chenghai's water quality stands at Class IV in 2020.

7. Lugu Lake

Lugu is a famed scenic area featuring plateau lake natural scenery and unique Mosuo matriarchal ethnic culture. Due to effective protection and management, the water quality of the Lugu lake stood at Class I in 2020.

8. Yilong Lake

Yilong is one of the five major lakes in Yunnan and is surrounded by numerous scenic spots. During the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, the Yilong lake authority has improved the water quality of Yilong lake through the implementation of the Yilong lake Protection and Management Project. In 2018, Yilong lake successfully got rid of the poor Class V water quality.

With the gradual improvement of the water quality of Yilong and the continuous improvement of the infrastructure, Yilong lake National Wetland Park has become the most popular attraction in Shiping county. Besides, the Yilong wetlands built afterwards also play an important role in purifying the Lake.

9. Yangzonghai

Yangzonghai is a juvenile lake, which is a plateau break-up lake and is rich in golden thread fish. In 2008, as the third largest deep-water plateau lake in Yunnan Province, the water quality of Yangzonghai once dropped from Class II to poor V due to arsenic pollution. After several years of treatment, the Yangzong lake came out of the shadow of "arsenic pollution" and the water quality recovered and stabilized at Class II or III.

With the greening and reforestation work in recent years, however, the forest coverage of the Yangzonghai area has reached 50.44%. The water quality of Yangzonghai has improved. In the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the water quality of Yangzonghai reached Class III.

“This year, Yunnan has implemented protection works for major lakes to improve water quality and maintain stable water quality standards,and the quality of surface water continues to improve," said an official with the Yunnan provincial government.

Source: Xinhua; trans-editing by Zhang Shuyu