The Regulations on the Protection of Water Resources of Guizhou Province came into effect on January 1, 2017. It was the first, in China, to propose a full implementation of the “River Chief System” in local regulations, stipulating that the water resources (including lakes and reservoirs) management and conservation in the province shall be fully implemented the “River Chief System” at all levels government.
In addition, the administration has carried out a wide range of monitoring and analysis of water in the Huangguoshu Scenic Area Master Plan (2018-2035). For example, established a water quality monitoring and assessment system for cross-section boundaries, and provide ecological compensation if the water quality outside the boundary meets the assessment requirements. In addition, a strict patrol system was implemented. The local government requires district-level River Chiefs to patrol the river at least once a quarter, town-level River Chiefs to patrol the river at least once a month, and village-level River Chiefs to patrol at least once a week. The administrative departments of each district have to organize patrols at least twice a quarter.
- Govern water resources in accordance with the law.The decentralization of management functions and departments in the national water resources management and protection mechanism has led to multiple political inconsistencies and low efficiency. We rely on the law to support the River Chief's personal authority to effectively regulate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
- Established a reasonable and effective monitoring system.
- Recorded the operation of the monitoring equipment.
- Implemented the maintenance system of monitoring equipment.
- Adjust the relationship between "Govern by human" and "Govern by law": The "River Chief System" is a typical model of human governance. The effectiveness of water governance is closely related to individual authority, expertise, and experience. Therefore, it’s necessary to construct a legal system, and to coordinate the relationship between individual and law, to ensure the stability and continuity of the water governance, and to avoid the unfavorable situation of " Individuals leave, policies disappear".
- Supervise with neighboring government departments: The agency should regularly carry out joint law enforcement with neighboring government departments.
- Strengthen the supervision and voice of community residents: In addition to satisfying the public’s right to know, the agency needs to ensure the residents have a voice in the assessment and evaluation of the governance effectiveness as well as substantive supervision.