On October 15, the Guangdong Provincial River Chief Office announced significant initiatives aimed at enhancing the dredging of ponds and waterways throughout the province. This move is part of a broader effort to establish a sustainable management framework that ensures the smooth flow of water, improves water quality, and revitalizes the picturesque landscapes of traditional mulberry-fish ponds.

The office reported that the Second River Chief Directive of 2024, titled “Establishment of a Normalized Dredging Work Mechanism for Ponds and Waterways,” has been officially signed. This directive emphasizes the importance of regular dredging operations as a critical strategy for strengthening the management of rivers and lakes, significantly improving urban and rural living environments, and enhancing water quality while ensuring unobstructed flood channels.

Furthermore, the directive outlines the necessity of accelerating the establishment of a comprehensive work mechanism that integrates pond and waterway dredging with various initiatives, including water pollution prevention, ecological protection and restoration, urban and rural environmental improvement, small river management, irrigation district renovations, high-standard farmland development, and navigation channel maintenance. The goal is to promote a coordinated and sustained effort, ensuring quality water security and ecological protection, thereby supporting the “High-Quality Development Project for One Hundred Counties, One Thousand Towns, and Ten Thousand Villages” and the ecological construction of a green and beautiful Guangdong.

In addition, the directive outlines a refined work approach based on “government guidance, departmental collaboration, and social participation.” The dredging responsibilities are categorized into three levels based on water body types: rural water bodies, urban water bodies, and rivers and lakes.

The directive also lays out five essential stages in the dredging process:

1. A thorough survey to accurately assess the total dredging volume planned for the year during the flood season.
2. Development of a dredging plan before the end of the flood season, detailing responsibilities and task divisions.
3. Execution of dredging using scientifically sound methods tailored to local conditions.
4. Proper disposal of dredged materials in accordance with ecological and environmental protection standards.
5. Establishing a long-term maintenance mechanism for ponds and waterways, clearly identifying the responsibilities for dredging and maintenance among the benefiting parties.

These measures reflect a commitment to sustainable water management in Guangdong.