Located in the north of downtownJingzhou and the upper reaches of the Four Lakes Basin, the Changhu Lake, Hubei'sthird-largest lake, has the important functions of floor control, regulationand storage, agricultural irrigation, aquaculture, transportation and shipping,environmental protection and eco-tourism. However, the lake's ecologicalenvironment has not been optimistic in recent years. To strengthen the water resourcesprotection and water pollution treatment of the lake, protect and restore itsecological environment, Jingzhou has released the Regulations on Protection of Changhu Lake in Jingzhou to protectthe lake.

The Changhu Lake is managed byJingzhou, Jingmen and Qianjiang. In recent years, relevant areas have madeintensive efforts to protect the lake, but Jingzhou's existing problems arenon-negligible: the decrease in the lake area, serious water pollution and thedamage to ecological environment. Aiming at the existing problems of the lake,the Standing Committee of the Jingzhou Municipal People's Congress decided to legislateto protect the Changhu Lake. After two years of legislation, the Regulations on Protection of Changhu Lake inJingzhou will come into effect on April 1, 2019.

The Regulations on Protection of Changhu Lake in Jingzhou specify that thequality of water bodies in Changhu Lake waters and key runoff areas shall beprotected against pollution based on the requirements of water function zoningand shall not be below the Class II standard set forth in the Environmental Quality Standards for SurfaceWater. After the Regulations comeinto effect, the Changhu Lake will restore its clear water and green bank. The Regulations will also accumulateexperience for the legislative protection of Jingzhou's water environment.