Chapter 3
Water Resources Management
Institutions
Abstract This chapter analyzes water resources management organizations in
ancient history, development after 1949, and at present in China. The structures
of water institutions in ancient China were very complicated. In the 70 years from
1949 to 2019, as the country developed from an agricultural economy to an industrialized one, the role of the water sector and its organizations experienced significant
changes. The focus of the water sector shifted from water resources project construction to water resources management and to water resources saving and protection.
The sector’s purposes were transformed from agriculture to industry, domestic sector,
and ecology/environment. In almost 70 years, the MWR’s functions have undergone
many changes. It developed from an agency for agricultural development in the 1950s
to a combination of water infrastructure construction and hydropower development in
the 1960s and 1970s. Its key responsibilities concerned water infrastructure construction and water resources management in the 1980s and 1990s, then water resources
management in 2000s, but reverted to the management of water resources projects,
water resources and waters after 2018.
Keywords Water resource management institution · Ancient China · Water
infrastructure construction · Water resources management · Water environmental
protection
3.1 Water Management Institutions Before 1949 1
China has a long history of water resources development that extends over
3,000 years. Water resources management has been emphasized in all Chinese
dynasties because it was regarded as the foundation of agriculture. In historical
period, water resources management can be generally grouped into an administrative management system and an engineering implementation system. The activities
of water administration normally include river harnessing, tide control, irrigation
development, navigation, fishery and aquatic plants, as well as water transportation
facilities (such as dams, bridges, and ferry crossings).
1 The section is based on Yao (1987) Profile of water resources development history of China. Water
and Power Publisher, Beijing.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_3
59
Water Resources Management
Institutions
Abstract This chapter analyzes water resources management organizations in
ancient history, development after 1949, and at present in China. The structures
of water institutions in ancient China were very complicated. In the 70 years from
1949 to 2019, as the country developed from an agricultural economy to an industrialized one, the role of the water sector and its organizations experienced significant
changes. The focus of the water sector shifted from water resources project construction to water resources management and to water resources saving and protection.
The sector’s purposes were transformed from agriculture to industry, domestic sector,
and ecology/environment. In almost 70 years, the MWR’s functions have undergone
many changes. It developed from an agency for agricultural development in the 1950s
to a combination of water infrastructure construction and hydropower development in
the 1960s and 1970s. Its key responsibilities concerned water infrastructure construction and water resources management in the 1980s and 1990s, then water resources
management in 2000s, but reverted to the management of water resources projects,
water resources and waters after 2018.
Keywords Water resource management institution · Ancient China · Water
infrastructure construction · Water resources management · Water environmental
protection
3.1 Water Management Institutions Before 1949 1
China has a long history of water resources development that extends over
3,000 years. Water resources management has been emphasized in all Chinese
dynasties because it was regarded as the foundation of agriculture. In historical
period, water resources management can be generally grouped into an administrative management system and an engineering implementation system. The activities
of water administration normally include river harnessing, tide control, irrigation
development, navigation, fishery and aquatic plants, as well as water transportation
facilities (such as dams, bridges, and ferry crossings).
1 The section is based on Yao (1987) Profile of water resources development history of China. Water
and Power Publisher, Beijing.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_3
59