Large‑water‑body Ecological Regulation Project Comes into Operation in Sichuan

A provincial‑first large‑water‑body ecological regulation and ecological‑value conversion project, the Chuanshihu Reservoir Project in Weiyuan, Neijiang, has gone fully operational. Developed by a resource‑utilisation subsidiary under Sichuan Ecological Environment Group, which falls under Sichuan Development Holding Company, the facility delivers integrated ecological restoration and industrial development for upper Yangtze River catchments.

Working alongside research bodies including the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the project rolls out five interlinked business streams: ecological fisheries, facility‑based aquaculture, clear‑water fisheries, recreational fisheries and derivative industries. 

It hosts Sichuan’s first full‑water‑surface facility‑driven aquaculture base. Aquaculture water achieves 98 per‑cent efficient recycling with near‑zero pollutant discharge. 

A technical framework centred on “purifying water and controlling algal blooms through fish breeding” has been established. 

An AI‑powered intelligent decision‑making platform carries out precise early‑warning and regulation of water quality, shifting large‑water‑body governance from experience‑led operations to data‑driven management. It addresses long‑standing practical dilemmas between conventional extensive aquaculture and rigid ecological conservation.

The facility is set to produce more than 900 000 jin of ecologically‑bred fish each year, meeting operational targets for high‑density, low‑risk and pollution‑free green aquaculture. Water quality within the reservoir has improved steadily throughout the construction phase. Sightings of *Craspedacusta*, known informally as the “giant panda of fresh water”, have been recorded within the reservoir zone, offering tangible proof of effective ecological regulation.

The launch of Chuanshihu Reservoir Project marks meaningful progress for Sichuan in translating large‑water‑body ecological advantages into tangible economic value. Standardised operational frameworks will be refined by Sichuan Ecological Environment Group. Complete technical packages and replicable industrial models for river‑lake restoration will be rolled out across Sichuan and further regions nationwide. 

These practical solutions will support ecological conservation across the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, as state‑owned enterprises contribute to national‑scale low‑carbon transition and the realisation of ecological‑product value.