As the province is intensifying its efforts to win the battle for clear sky and clean water, JSBS staff reporters dived beneath the three major lakes in Jiangsu to witness the improving water quality.
Jiangsu has a total area of more than 100,000 square kilometers and the inland river system accounts for 17%. In recent years, many rivers and lakes have regained their brilliance as the province has continuously intensified its water control efforts.
In the past, the natural average water depth of Luoma Lake was only 2 to 3 meters, but illegal sand mining increased the water depths up to 30 meters. When diving underneath the water for 40 minutes, our staff reporter could reach a depth of up to 15 meters where many fish species such as silver fish and mullet were found.
Experts say the recent monitoring shows that there are more than 20 kinds of aquatic plants visible in the Luoma Lake, more than 40 kinds of benthic animals and more than 130 kinds of phytoplankton under the water. From an ecological perspective, the water is of good quality.
Dive into the northern part of Hongze Lake, our staff reporters found that underwater vegetables grow near the surface of the water. When diving towards the bottom of the lake, large and small potholes left by sand mining are quite visible.
There are also many brown fry, which the staff said are the re-breeding fry that have been regenerated in recent years.
According to recent monitoring, there are nearly 40 aquatic plants, more than 30 benthic animals, and 140 kinds of phytoplankton in Hongze Lake. Compared with the past, the water quality is basically stable. Since sand mining was prohibited, the ecosystem is gradually recovering.
When diving into Taihu Lake, our staff reporters found that underwater visibility is very good with visibility of more than one meter. The aquatic plants densely packed at the bottom of the lake form an underwater forest. Down to the bottom of the lake, a lot of algae particles are visible in the water.
(Source:ourjiangsu.com)
