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11 The River and Lake Chief System
the end of 2018. All lakes in each province were required to set up a lake chief
system to fulfill jurisdictional management responsibility. The role of lake chief for
key provincial and cross-provincial lakes that have an important role in the province
is taken by provincial leaders. In principal, the role of cross-prefecture lake chief is
taken by provincial leadership, and the role of cross-county lake chief is taken by
prefectural leadership. At the same time, the prefecture, county, and towns in which
the lakes are located set up lake chiefs based on administrative regions to implement
grid management and guarantee all waters with the responsible body.
The Opinions state that the highest level lake chief is the first responsible person
and takes overall responsibility for lake management and protection, which consists
of comprehensively coordinating the management and protection of lakes and intolake rivers, defining lake management and protection targets, formulating a “one
lake, one measure” plan, clarifying the responsibility for lake chiefs at each level,
coordinating to solve key lake management and protection problems, and dealing
with key problems and illegal activities. Lake chiefs at other levels take responsibility for lake management and protection in their jurisdictions. In addition, RBOs
coordinate, guide, and supervise cross-province lake management and protection.
The RBOs are in charge of delimiting forbidden setting zones and limited setting
zones for discharge outlets into waters and supervising the provinces to ensure they
fulfill their responsibility to control total pollutant discharge volume into lakes. A
communication and consultation mechanism should be developed between RBOs
and provinces.
The lake chiefs’ key tasks include lake waters space management and control, lake
shoreline management and protection, lake water resources protection and pollution
control, lake water environmental comprehensive management, and lake ecological
restoration and recovery. At the same time, classified management and protection
deal with different lake types, such as plateau lakes, inland lakes, plain lakes, and
urban lakes (Office of the State Council 2018). Therefore, although the lake chief
system is part of the overall river chief system, there are some differences between the
two systems. The lake chief system focuses on lake waters and shoreline management
and protection, which are the basis for physically protecting lakes and monitoring
illegal encroachment, which impact on a lake’s functions. Due to the integrity of
lakes and waters, the highest lake chief is appointed the overall leader. In addition,
RBOs are involved in cross-province lake management and protection.
11.2.7 Institutional Framework Related to Water
Figure 11.1 describes the institutional relationship between the river chief system
and functional departments, such as the water and environmental departments. It is
clear that organizational relationships at levels below the provincial level become
complicated. Normally, the line agency at the local government at each level is the
organ of the local government and is technically guided by the line agency at the
upper level. However, in the river chief system, the river chief is led and assessed by
11 The River and Lake Chief System
the end of 2018. All lakes in each province were required to set up a lake chief
system to fulfill jurisdictional management responsibility. The role of lake chief for
key provincial and cross-provincial lakes that have an important role in the province
is taken by provincial leaders. In principal, the role of cross-prefecture lake chief is
taken by provincial leadership, and the role of cross-county lake chief is taken by
prefectural leadership. At the same time, the prefecture, county, and towns in which
the lakes are located set up lake chiefs based on administrative regions to implement
grid management and guarantee all waters with the responsible body.
The Opinions state that the highest level lake chief is the first responsible person
and takes overall responsibility for lake management and protection, which consists
of comprehensively coordinating the management and protection of lakes and intolake rivers, defining lake management and protection targets, formulating a “one
lake, one measure” plan, clarifying the responsibility for lake chiefs at each level,
coordinating to solve key lake management and protection problems, and dealing
with key problems and illegal activities. Lake chiefs at other levels take responsibility for lake management and protection in their jurisdictions. In addition, RBOs
coordinate, guide, and supervise cross-province lake management and protection.
The RBOs are in charge of delimiting forbidden setting zones and limited setting
zones for discharge outlets into waters and supervising the provinces to ensure they
fulfill their responsibility to control total pollutant discharge volume into lakes. A
communication and consultation mechanism should be developed between RBOs
and provinces.
The lake chiefs’ key tasks include lake waters space management and control, lake
shoreline management and protection, lake water resources protection and pollution
control, lake water environmental comprehensive management, and lake ecological
restoration and recovery. At the same time, classified management and protection
deal with different lake types, such as plateau lakes, inland lakes, plain lakes, and
urban lakes (Office of the State Council 2018). Therefore, although the lake chief
system is part of the overall river chief system, there are some differences between the
two systems. The lake chief system focuses on lake waters and shoreline management
and protection, which are the basis for physically protecting lakes and monitoring
illegal encroachment, which impact on a lake’s functions. Due to the integrity of
lakes and waters, the highest lake chief is appointed the overall leader. In addition,
RBOs are involved in cross-province lake management and protection.
11.2.7 Institutional Framework Related to Water
Figure 11.1 describes the institutional relationship between the river chief system
and functional departments, such as the water and environmental departments. It is
clear that organizational relationships at levels below the provincial level become
complicated. Normally, the line agency at the local government at each level is the
organ of the local government and is technically guided by the line agency at the
upper level. However, in the river chief system, the river chief is led and assessed by