12 | Thursday, August 13, 2020 CHINA DAILY Project makes a splash in nature

By YIN RUOWEI From left: The riparian ecosystem in Chagan Lake is restored through local environmental protection efforts. ZHANG NAN / FOR CHINA DAILY Tourist boats highlight Chagan Lake’s [email protected] charm as an ecotourism resort. WANG XUELEI / FOR CHINA DAILY The wetland of Chagan Lake is home to scores of plants and wildlife. WANG XUELEI / FOR CHINA DAILY In Jilin, a much­anticipated water management project con­ necting rivers and lakes and major water conservancy works in the west of the province will be completed this year. It will turn previously unutilized natural resources into industrial and economic advantages, local offi­ cials said. The total area of wetlands in the western region of Jilin covers 4,939 square kilometers. The wetlands and lakes that had dried up have now burst back to life, attracting a great number of migratory birds. And the eco­ logical environment has signifi­ cantly improved, experts said. They said the microclimate in western Jilin has improved with water shortages alleviated, which guarantees its use in industrial and agricultural pro­ duction and daily lives. The protection and restoration of wetlands not only creates a better harmony between humans and nature, but also plays a key role in the construction of an eco­ logical civilization in Jilin — an important government initia­ tive, local officials said. An overhead view shows the large number of trees surrounding the ring roads of Meihekou city in Northeast China’s Jilin province. SUN HONGYU / FOR CHINA DAILY Chagan Lake in Songyuan city, is China’s seventh­largest lake and the largest freshwater lake in northeastern China. Thanks to the water management project, bogs in the urban area of Jilin province takes advantage of Songyuan and neighboring coun­ ties have had their water supplies replenished with water coming from 72 lakes with Chagan Lake at the core. its liquid assets to stop drought The annual amount of water diverted can reach 275 million cubic meters and the maximum Water management initiative to divert floods into arid land and help return balance to environment water storage can total 1.7 bil­ lion cu m. A total of 1,028 sq km of lacustrine wetlands have By HU YUYAN “A natural solution might be to up nearly 1 meter on average, to the rapid growth of the local been restored and improved, [email protected] connect the rivers to the lakes and which has greatly eased the per­ economy, according to the Jilin local officials said. Last year, channel the floodwaters into the ennial water shortages in west­ government. To improve the water Chagan Lake received 4.6 mil­ While the Nenjiang River was lakes and marshlands scattered ern Jilin. environment of cities and villages lion visits and earned 4.05 bil­ flooding, a drought was happening across deteriorated grasslands and Almost 4,000 white cranes, or on its path, the River­Lake Connec­ lion yuan ($581.3 million) in only 2 kilometers away, a water saline and alkali soils,” local offi­ more than 90 percent of the spe­ tion Project has built a number of revenue. management worker in Northeast cials and water management cies, stay in the Momoge nature scenic lakes. Examples include The project also benefited China’s Jilin province told local workers proposed, according to Jil­ reserve for about 100 days during Heming Lake in Baicheng city, Baicheng. The city’s 124 bogs media. The floodwaters, so desper­ in Daily. their migratory flight every year, Nanhu Lake in Taonan city and were connected and its two res­ ately needed elsewhere, were left In 2013, Jilin launched a water according to a 2019 report by Jiuqu Lake in Qianguo county. ervoirs — drained for 12 years — to waste. management initiative, dubbed A family of swans swim in a Chinanews portal. Songyuan city in Jilin is building came back to life. Rare water­ For years floods and droughts the River­Lake Connection Project, pond on the campus of Jilin The rich water resources result­ an ecotown, which will “offer din­ fowl species like swans and red­ had troubled western Jilin, which to divert floodwater from rivers University. ing from the project are also driv­ ing, lodging, transport, sightsee­ crowned cranes also returned. is flanked by the Nenjiang and Tao­ into lakes, wetlands and reservoirs QU JIAWEI / FOR CHINA DAILY ing the development of local ing, shopping and entertainment Official data show the project er rivers. in its western areas. industries. Crop production in services”, said Wang Zilian, Party has helped increase water stor­ Since the 1970s, the region had This was the first major water in western Jilin. Nearly 2.9 billion western Jilin has grown by secretary of Songyuan, reported age capacity in Baicheng by 250 seen declining precipitation and conservancy project by Jilin to cu m of water has been channeled 280,000 metric tons thanks to Songyuan Daily. million cu m, improve and increasing desertification due to restore and improve the local eco­ through the network, which has increased irrigation, according to Baicheng city in Jilin is reaping restore 640 sq km of wetlands, climate change and other factors. system. helped restore some 3,700 sq km of local officials. the rewards of its improved ecolo­ and restored 70,000­hectares of More than 2,700 square kilome­ It is listed as one of the 172 major lakes and wetlands in nature The water surface area of fish gy. It has been selected as a pilot grassland and reeds. ters of lakes and wetlands had water projects of the country and reserves including Xianghai and ponds and crab ponds has city for a national “sponge city” The groundwater level in been lost, according to People’s an important task in the campaign Momoge. increased by more than 560 sq km program and has passed inspec­ Baicheng rose by an average of Daily. to revive Northeast China — once The local government said that and over 280 sq km respectively. tion for urban water management 1.02 meters, and 15,000 wells in At the same time, during the the country’s industrial heartland, western Jilin has seen a marked The local tourism industry, conducted by the State, according farmlands regained previously annual flood season, more than 30 local officials said. increase in precipitation and a using resources such as the to the Jilin government. lost irrigation capacity. The billion cubic meters of surplus The water project has achieved measurable decrease in sandy Xianghai nature reserve, Chagan amount of irrigation water in water runs through the region, the its goal of connecting rivers with winds thanks to the project. Lake and Nenjiang Bay National Han Junhong contributed to this farmlands was increased by Beijing­based newspaper reported. 203 lakes, wetlands and reservoirs Local groundwater has gone Wetland Park, is also contributing story. nearly 550 million cu m. At the beginning of this year, Baicheng transferred 90 million cu m of water to restore and improve part of the Xianghai wetland. As a result of all these efforts, residents in Baicheng now have more options for enjoying leisure time near the water. Momoge in Baicheng, which is the largest wetland reserve in Jilin and an important stop on the migratory paths of birds in East Asia, has dedicated itself to developing local tourism cen­ tered on its ecological resour­ ces, according to local officials.

Han Junhong contributed to this story.

ment projects, including controlling projects. It will also develop its Changes at Chagan Lake bringing benefits for all non­point source pollution and catering, accommodation, travel, improving the reed ponds along the shopping and entertainment facili­ lake. ties along the lake, as well as plant By YUAN SHENGGAO named a provincial nature reserve that has become an accredited ing through the ice and fish bursting Non­point source pollution refers 5.67 million trees. in 1992. Thanks to the local govern­ “green food” by the national green out of the water onto the lakes fro­ to water and air pollution from In the next three years, Chagan After decades of efforts aimed at ment’s soil and water treatment food certification center. zen surface. many different sources that have no Lake and its surrounding area of reducing pollution and improving measures, Chagan Lake is Experts say that because the As the core area of Jilin’s western obvious discharge point. 4,866 hectares will see Chinese the environment, Chagan Lake in renowned for its good ecological water in Chagan Lake is alkaline ecological economic zone, Chagan Qianguo county is benefiting by medicinal herbs, plums and aquatic Jilin’s Qianguo county has become environment with varied wild ani­ with a PH value of 8, it is impossible Lake plays an important role in reg­ integrating the protection of ecolo­ plants planted. At the same time, an ecological protection model mals and bird life. for bacteria to grow. As a result, the ulating the climate and maintaining gy and developing ecotourism, there will be a reduction in the use described as a green ecological The lake is home to more than 60 fish in Chagan Lake feast on nutri­ the ecological environment for the according to local officials. of 13 tons of pesticide and 2,737 tons shelter and must­see tourist different types of fish, as well as vari­ tious microorganisms. province. In addition to the efforts In the future, the county will of chemical fertilizer. attraction. ous crustaceans and shrimp. It pro­ Winter fishing at Chagan Lake is made at Chagan Lake, Qianguo accelerate construction on wetlands The freshwater lake ranks duces 3,000 metric tons of fresh fish popular with locals and visitors county has also made efforts to used for water drainage, sewage Han Junhong contributed to this among China’s top 10 and was annually, such as the bighead carp alike, with thousands of people drill­ launch environmental improve­ treatment plants and sewage pipe story.

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