Picture 2: Jiang Dexin is patrolling. Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of Danjiangkou Municipal Party Committee

Picture 3: Liao Siying is recording water quality sampling data. Photo courtesy of Hanjiang Normal University

Picture 4: Xiao Anshan is driving a floating cleaning boat. Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of Yunyang District Party Committee

Picture 5: Aerial view of Danjiangkou Reservoir. Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of Danjiangkou Municipal Party Committee

Data source: China South-to-North Water Diversion Group Co., Ltd., Publicity Department of Danjiangkou Municipal Party Committee

On the occasion of the second China Ecological Day, General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote back to environmental protection volunteers in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area of Shiyan, Hubei. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is related to the overall strategic situation, long-term development and people's well-being. Protecting the ecological environment of the water source and ensuring that "a stream of clear water flows north sustainably" requires everyone to fulfill their responsibilities and work hard for a long time. I hope you will continue to promote the spirit of volunteer service, encourage more people to consciously protect water, conserve water, and work together to build a beautiful China with green mountains, clear waters, and fresh air, and contribute to the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

In 2014, the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project was officially put into operation. Over the past 10 years, as an important water source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the Danjiangkou Reservoir has continued to deepen water quality protection, and the majority of cadres and the masses, including volunteers, have actively participated in water management and protection. Recently, the reporter went to the Danjiangkou Reservoir in Shiyan City, Hubei Province, and listened to the stories of four environmental protection volunteers who protected the clear water of the reservoir with their heart and soul.

--Editor

Xiao Anshan, captain of the Hanjiang River Cleaning Team in Yunyang District, Shiyan City--

"The water in the reservoir has become clearer, and the hard work is worth it"

At 5 o'clock in the morning, the morning light was dim. Xiao Anshan came to the Danjiangkou Reservoir and boarded the cleaning boat. The 12 members of the floating cleaning team are already in place. Xiao Anshan put on a life jacket, walked into the cab, and pressed the start button...

Xiao Anshan is 52 years old and is from Liupi Town, Yunyang District, Shiyan City, Hubei Province. In 2017, the district established the Hanjiang floating cleaning team, and Xiao Anshan served as the team leader. "My grandfather made a living by pulling boats, and my father worked in freight on the Hanjiang River. I grew up drinking water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir." Xiao Anshan said.

Floating cleaning is a physical job. After branches and weeds are soaked in water, their weight increases, and coupled with the resistance of water, it is not easy to salvage. "We mainly use tools such as scoop nets, shovels, and rakes to clean floating." Xiao Anshan said that at the end of the day, his arms, waist and legs are all sore.

Floating cleaning is even more of a technical job. The floating cleaning team has a professional floating cleaning boat. Xiao Anshan can not only accurately control the mechanical arm of the floating cleaning boat, but also observe the hydrological environment. "We are responsible for cleaning up the three rivers of Sihe, Shendinghe and Longquanhe in Shiyan City. Only by understanding the wind direction and water flow characteristics can we quickly find the places where garbage is concentrated." Xiao Anshan said.

The sky gradually brightened and the sun shone on the boat. "The deck was hot at noon." Xiao Anshan said, "There are many floating objects during the flood season, which may pollute the water quality and even affect the dam's flood discharge port and generator set, so now we work until 10 o'clock every night."

Xiao Anshan usually likes to be clean, but he can't take care of many things when he works. "My clothes are wet by sweat and water in the reservoir every day, and there is fishy smell and sweat smell." Xiao Anshan has rheumatism, but he has never thought of quitting the floating cleaning team. "Seeing the water in the reservoir area become clear, it's worth the hard work."

When the workload is heavy, the district also recruits some retired fishermen as temporary floating cleaning team members. "The work of floating cleaning is very hard. In addition to giving them some food subsidies, we can't give them much in return, but everyone has feelings for the reservoir area and is still willing to participate." Xiao Anshan said.

Near noon, Xiao Anshan and his team members simply ate some instant noodles on the boat and sailed further...

Tu Qinghai, head of Shiyan Green Ecological Public Welfare Promotion Center--

"The team that guards and protects water is growing stronger and stronger"

At 4:30 pm, in Yunyang District, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, the setting sun sprinkled on the water surface of Danjiangkou Reservoir, sparkling. Tu Qinghai, wearing a red hat and holding a small red flag, walked at the front of the team. Behind him, followed a group of students and several environmental volunteers from Beijing. "Everyone should protect the water source like protecting their own eyes, and can't throw garbage in the reservoir at will..." Tu Qinghai said as he walked.

Tu Qinghai is 37 years old and lives in Danjiangkou Reservoir. In 2014, the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project was officially put into operation, and protecting the water quality of Danjiangkou Reservoir has become a major concern of Shiyan City cadres and the masses. "At that time, I had participated in volunteer service activities for several years, had experience, and wanted to contribute to protecting the reservoir area." Tu Qinghai said that in 2016, he initiated the establishment of the Shiyan Green Ecological Public Welfare Promotion Center, while leading his friends around him, and through other environmental protection volunteer activities, he called on volunteers from all over the country to join the action of protecting the Danjiangkou Reservoir area. "Now, volunteers from all provinces along the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project will participate, and the team of water protection is growing stronger and stronger." Tu Qinghai said.

At the beginning of the formation of the team, Tu Qinghai mainly organized volunteers to pick up garbage in the reservoir area and river channels, and promote environmental protection knowledge to residents around the reservoir area. "At that time, plastic bottles could often be picked up during the line patrol in the reservoir area. As everyone's environmental awareness has increased, garbage is rarely seen now." Tu Qinghai said.

Because of this, the team gradually reduced the frequency of line patrols and devoted more energy to environmental protection publicity. "Every summer, we organize activities to help everyone, especially young people, establish awareness of water protection through on-site line patrols, popular science lectures, promotional videos, etc." Tu Qinghai said.

The environment and water quality are getting better and better, and Tu Qinghai has led more and more volunteers. "The team now has more than 200 volunteers. As long as the activity notification is sent in the group, many people will sign up immediately." Tu Qinghai said, "We are also popularizing a more comprehensive and systematic environmental protection concept, not only protecting the reservoir itself, but also paying attention to changes in the surrounding environment, and incorporating mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasses and sands." Looking at the clear water, Tu Qinghai was full of satisfaction.

Liao Siying, a member of the Jiuselu Science Popularization Volunteer Team of Hanjiang Normal University--

"Gather the power of youth and guard a pool of clear water"

During the summer vacation, the Huanglongtan National Wetland Park in Shiyan, Hubei Province was bustling with people. Under the leadership of Liao Siying and other science popularization volunteers, a group of primary school students were learning about the ecological and environmental protection knowledge of the Danjiangkou Reservoir through real-life sand tables, three-dimensional wall paintings, and science popularization knowledge displays. "The middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is more than 1,400 kilometers long and is an important water source for 26 large and medium-sized cities along the route. We must cherish and protect it..." Liao Siying explained in detail.

Liao Siying is a senior student at the School of Education of Hubei Hanjiang Normal University and a member of the school's Jiuselu Science Popularization Volunteer Team. Liao Siying didn't know much about water source protection before. "In 2021, after joining the science popularization volunteer team, I often went to listen to lectures by water environment experts and used my spare time to learn about environmental protection knowledge." Liao Siying said, "I also went to the Danjiangkou Reservoir area with my classmates to conduct research and learn about the history of the reservoir area through local residents."

Gradually, Liao Siying participated more in volunteer activities. "In the second year, I participated almost every week, sometimes picking up garbage in the reservoir area, and sometimes popularizing environmental protection knowledge. We incorporated the relevant knowledge of the Danjiangkou Reservoir area into leaflets and video courses, and continuously enriched the communication carriers and forms." Liao Siying said that everyone also showed their strengths and designed and produced exquisite environmental protection public service advertisements for the residential areas around the reservoir area.

So far, the Jiuselu Science Volunteer Team has been carrying out activities for 5 consecutive years, growing from a dozen people at the beginning to more than 800 people. "Many volunteers in our team have never quit after graduation. Sometimes when we carry out activities, some seniors will still take time to participate and continue to contribute to the protection of the Danjiangkou Reservoir." Liao Siying said.

In September this year, the school will welcome a new batch of new students. In order to encourage more people to participate in volunteer service activities, after organizing the science activities, Liao Siying plans to return to school in advance and work with team members to recruit new volunteers. "Our school is located in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area. We have the responsibility to gather the power of youth and protect the clear water!" Liao Siying said.

Jiang Dexin, a member of the Danjiangkou City "Little Water Drop" Water Protection Volunteer Service Team--

"I grew up in the reservoir area, so I have to take care of it with my heart"

Dark skin, wrinkles like gullies, seeing Jiang Dexin, shaking his strong big hand, you can immediately feel that he is an "old hand". "From fishing to protecting water, I have been dealing with the water in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area all my life. I grew up in the reservoir area, so I have to take care of it with my heart." Jiang Dexin said.

Jiang Dexin is a resident of Xingang Community, Xingang Economic Development Management Office, Danjiangkou City, Shiyan, Hubei. He is 63 years old this year, and his ancestors have been fishermen for three generations. After graduating from junior high school, Jiang Dexin inherited the fishing boat left by his father and became a new generation of fishermen in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area.

In 2021, a comprehensive fishing ban will be implemented in the Shiyan section of the main stream of the Hanjiang River. Although he was reluctant, Jiang Dexin still gave up his livelihood of fishing and became one of the first retired fishermen to go ashore at the Xingang Economic Development Management Office.

Leaving the water, Jiang Dexin was not used to it. Later, Danjiangkou City established a volunteer service team and equipped the service team with a small boat for daily river patrols and water rescue. After becoming a member of the volunteer service team, Jiang Dexin went out almost every morning at 7 or 8 o'clock, driving the boat along the nearly 2-kilometer-long river bank downstream of the Danjiangkou Dam for more than 4 times to inspect the environmental sanitation of the river and clean up the garbage along the coast.

When fishing before, Jiang Dexin always hoped to return with a full load, but now he hopes most every day to "return empty-handed." "The less I bring back, the better the environment." Jiang Dexin said.

Under the leadership of Jiang Dexin, more and more retired fishermen, community cadres, and the masses joined the volunteer service team, and the number of team members gradually increased from 16 to 186. "As long as my body allows, I will keep doing it," said Jiang Dexin.

Last year, Danjiangkou City established a "Little Water Drop" water protection volunteer service team, and all the volunteers in Jiang Dexin's team joined. So far, Danjiangkou City has established 336 "Little Water Drop" water protection volunteer service teams, with nearly 90,000 volunteers registered by real name. "As more and more people join the water protection team, the environment in the reservoir area will definitely get better and better." Jiang Dexin said.

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