Shanmen Reservoir in Lixian County, Hunan Province. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Su Xiaozhou
"Since last year, the rainfall has been much lower than the same period in previous years, and the water level in the reservoir area has been several meters lower than the normal water level. It was difficult to maintain good water quality in the past," said Hu Weihua, Deputy Director of the Management Office of the Cenhuai National Wetland Park in Lizhou, Hunan. Shanmen Reservoir and Wangjiachang Reservoir are both within the protection scope of the wetland public park. In recent years, through the construction of wetland restoration projects, the implementation of rural non-point source pollution comprehensive prevention and control demonstration projects, and the strengthening of publicity, education, and supervision, Lixian County has significantly improved the ecological environment of the Cenhuai National Wetland Park in Lizhou. Under the current unfavorable weather conditions, Shanmen Reservoir can still maintain Class II water quality, and Wangjiachang Reservoir can still maintain Class III water quality, continuously delivering high-quality production and domestic water to more than 10 townships in Lixian County.
Leaving the Chenhuai National Wetland Park in Lizhou and heading east, the reporter arrived at Liuye Lake, located in Changde City with a water area of 21.8 square kilometers. Standing by the lakeside and looking around, one can see the blue sky, white clouds, and clear water complementing each other, affectionately referred to as "Willow Leaf Blue" by the citizens of Changde.
"Before 2013, urban development and construction were in full swing, and the aquatic ecological environment was greatly affected. In the Lotus Park by Liuye Lake, water hyacinths and weeds grew wildly, and the lake water often produced a foul odor, which had a negative impact on the lives of citizens." Deng Jie, director of the Liuye Lake Branch of the Changde Ecological Environment Bureau, said that in the face of the severe ecological situation, Changde City has carried out large-scale comprehensive management and construction of Liuye Lake in recent years, establishing a long-term mechanism for lake ecological management and protection, and the appearance of Liuye Lake has been revitalized.
A corner of Liuye Lake in Changde City. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Su Xiaozhou
In the West Dongting Lake area, there are still many lakes and wetlands like Liuye Lake and Cenhuai Wetland that benefit from protection and management to achieve "butterfly transformation".
In the West Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve located in Hanshou County, Changde City, measures have been implemented in recent years such as pearl retreat and removal of European and American black poplar. Ecological agricultural production models such as rice fishing, rice shrimp, and rice turtle symbiosis have been explored around the reserve. Nowadays, whether walking along the long coastline or taking a boat into the depths of a large lake in the hinterland of the protected area, people can see the natural wetland scenery of grass growing, birds flying, and waterfowl gathering.
In Anxiang County, Changde City, Shanpo Lake, covering an area of 18.3 square kilometers, measures have been taken to control and protect the lake, including intercepting and dredging, replenishing and purifying water, creating artificial wetlands, planting water plants, and reconstructing underwater forests. The Shanpo Lake, which was once polluted by industrial and agricultural non-point sources and continuously deteriorated in water quality to Class V, is gradually improving its self purification function and water quality, and biodiversity is also beginning to be effectively restored.
In Taoyuan County, Changde City, the Taohuayuan Scenic Area has implemented ecological projects such as pollution prevention and control, river dredging, bank slope treatment, embankment reinforcement, and landscape belt construction, resulting in a better natural environment. The scenic area adopts eye-catching electronic screens to display negative oxygen ion content data at any time.
Peng Meijun, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Changde Municipal Party Committee, said that in the city of Changde, where lakes are scattered and water networks are crisscrossed, a wide coverage wetland protection and management system has been established. A total of 136800 hectares of wetlands have been included in the scope of protection and ecological civilization governance construction.
Gong Li, Minister of the Propaganda and United Front Work Department of the Party Working Committee of Liuye Lake Tourism Resort, said that with the gradual improvement of the ecological environment of the lake and wetland, relying on natural resources such as mountains, water, forests, and countryside, the emerging industry of integrating science and technology innovation, agricultural tourism, and business tourism by the lake is emerging.
The change in water environment promotes the increase of aquatic plants, which in turn attracts more and more wild animals to inhabit poetically. Taking the West Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve as an example, more than 20 species of birds such as swans, white headed cranes, and grass owls have been newly recorded in recent years, 2 species of fish such as sturgeon, and 10 species of wetland vegetation.