Abstract
Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake are the source of water for the Grand Canal and the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Transfer (SNWT) project. With the accelerating pace of construction of the SNWT and the initiative to achieve “World Heritage ” status for the canal, the water quality and management of the lakes have gained attention in China. Based on analysis of water samples, monitoring data, and the content of heavy metal elements in surface sediments, the water quality of Gaoyou Lake and Hongze Lake have been examined. According to the analysis of the water samples taken in 2003, the content of the heavy metals met the water demands for Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake. However, monitoring data of 2004 indicate that the water quality of Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake both were worse than grade III which cannot meet the required standard. The heavy metal elements of sediment samples also were above the acceptable environmental standard values. Some projects were launched to promote the lake environment by controlling wastewater emissions, standardizing the types of boats and introducing regulations to protect the lakes. However, problems of vertical and horizontal fragmentation and insufficient public participation in the current management system still exist in the area. Considering the problems confronting the lakes, Integrated Water Resource Management is discussed as an effective approach to overcome the problems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
APHA, AWWA, & WEF (1998). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20th Ed.). Washington: American Public Health Association.
Abdulbaqi, A. K., Suleyman, M. A., Thamer, A. M., & Nassereldeen, K. A. (2007). Integrated water resource management plan in Oman: Way forward. Water Policy, 9(5), 457–473.
Antunes, P., & Santos, R. (1999). Integrated environmental management of the oceans. Ecological Economics, 31(2), 215–226.
Bruneau, R. (2005). Watershed management research: A review of IDRC projects in Asia and Latin America. Rural Poverty and Environment Working Paper Series. Ottawa: International Development and Research Council.
Cao, J. T., & Wang, S. M. (2000). Sustainable utilization of lake resources in the east plain area of China. Science and Technology Review, 6(1), 60–62.
Chu, E. G. (2001). Analysis on hydrological characteristic for Hongze Lake. Hydrology, 21(5), 56–59.
Eddison, T. (1985). Managing an ecological system 5: Reforming bureaucracy. Australian Quarterly, 57(1&2), 148–153.
Ge, Z. B. (2006). Suggestions of regulation work for the waterway of Bulao River section of the Jing-Hang Grand Canal. China Water Transport, 6(6), 41–43.
GWP (2000). Integrated water resources management. Stockholm: Global Water Partnership.
Han, C. Y. (2006). Deterioration of water quality of Hongze Lake and suggestions of environmental protection. Jiangsu Water Conservancy, 1(3), 39–40.
He, H. C. (2005). Research on lake environment in North Jiangsu Plain—A case study in Hongze Lake, PhD Thesis. China: Nanjing University.
He, D. W., & Chen, J. S. (1998). Water environment management in China: Problems and perspectives. Advances in Environmental Science, 6(5), 20–28.
He, D. W., & Chen, J. S. (2001). Issues, perspectives and need for integrated watershed management in China. Environmental Conservation, 28(4), 368–377.
Huang, X. J., Zhao, Z. L., & Zhong, T. Y. (2006). Intensify coordination to improve protection of lakes. Reform and Opening, 5(3), 32–34.
Jia, L. (2004). Discussion on the distribution of As, Cd, Pb and Zn in the sediments of Huaihe River and the Jing-Hang Grand Canal. Water Resources Protection, 8(1), 36–41.
Jiang, W. L. (1999). On the value of water resources. Beijing: Academic Press.
Karbassi, A. R., Monavari, S. M., Nabi Bidhendi, G. R., Nouri, J., & Nematpour, K. (2008). Metal Pollution assessment of sediment and water in the Shur River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-007-0102-8.
Kidd, S., & Shaw, D. (2007). Integrated water resource management and institutional integration: Realizing the potential of spatial planning in England. The Geographical Journal, 173(4), 312–329.
Koc, C. (2008). The effects of the environment and ecology projects on lake management and water quality. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0446-8.
Li, B., & Pu, P. M. (2003). Study on the evolution tendency of water quality in Huaihe River Basin and Hongze Lake. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 12(1), 67–73.
Li, C. H., Yang, Z. F., Zheng, X. K., Li, H. H., Li, Y. X., & Yu, J. S. (2007). Integrated water resources and water environment management in Zhangweinan Canal Subbasin. Environemtal Informatics Archives, 5, 715–727.
Liao, G. M. (1992). Formation and evolution of the Gaoyou Lake, Jiangsu Province. Acta Geographica Sinica, 47(2), 139–145.
Ling, S. (2001). Palaeogeographic changes of the Lixiahe district since the Holocene. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 21(5), 474–479.
Maaren, H., & Dent, M. (1995). Broadening participation in integrated catchment management for sustainable water resources development. Water Science and Technology, 32(5), 161–167.
Mitchell, B. (Ed.) (1990). Integrated water management: International experiences and perspectives. London: Belhaven Press.
Mitchell, B. (2005). Integrated water resource management, institutional arrangements, and land-use planning. Environment and Planning, 37(8), 1335–1352.
National Environmental Protection Agency (1998). Agenda 21 for China’s environmental protection. Beijing: China Environmental Sciences Press.
Schwartz, J. (2003). The impact of state capacity on enforcement of environmental policies: The case of China. The Journal of Environment and Development, 12(1), 50–81.
Serageldin, I. (1995). Toward sustainable management of water resources. Washington: World Bank.
State Environment Protection Bureau of China (2002). Methods of monitoring and analysis for water and wastewater (4th ed.). Beijing: Environmental Science Press.
Tang, S. Y., Tang, C. P., & Lo, C. W. (2005). Public participation and environmental impact assessment in Mainland China and Taiwan: Political foundations of environment management. The Journal of Development Studies, 41(1), 1–32.
Tian, X. P. (2007). Expediting the construction of standardization of ship types. China Water Transport, 14(2), 35–39.
Wang, H., & Yang, J. (1990). Annals of Gaoyou count. Nanjing: Jiangsu People’s Press.
Wang, S. M., & Dou, H. S. (1998). The records of lakes in China. Beijing: Science Press.
Wang, M. S., & Bowen, W. M. (2000). An integrated framework for public sector environmental management in developing countries. Environmental Management, 25(5), 463–476.
Wang, Q. G., Gu, G., & Higano, Y. (2006a). Toward integrated environmental management for challenges in water environmental protection of Lake Taihu Basin in China. Environmental Management, 37(5), 579–588.
Wang, Y., Zhang, Z. K., Zhu, D. K., Yang, J. H., Mao, L. J., & Li, S. H. (2006b). River-sea interaction and the north Jiangsu plain formation. Quaternary Sciences, 26(3), 301–319.
World Bank (1997). Clear water, blue skies: China’s environment in the new century. Washington: The World Bank.
Yang, L. F. (1993). Further discussion on the major conditions of the existence of Ostracoda—Taking Hongze Lake in China as example. Science in China (series B), 36(3), 358–365.
Zhang, Y. L., Qin, B. Q., & Huang, Q. F. (2002). Evolution and zone analysis on lake eutrophication in East Plain Region. Shanghai Environmental Sciences, 21(9), 549–553.
Zhang, Q. F., Xu, Z. F., & Shen, Z. H. (2009). The Han River watershed management initiative for the South-to-North Water Transfer project (middle route) of China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0167-z.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, S., Guo, W. & Mitchell, B. Evaluation of water quality and management of Hongze Lake and Gaoyou Lake along the Grand Canal in Eastern China. Environ Monit Assess 176, 373–384 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1590-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1590-5