为了探究长江河湖变迁与保护目标,以相关史料、文献和实测资料为基础,分析总结了地质时期以来长江河湖变迁和人水关系变化历程。研究表明,长江人水关系经历了从和谐共处—日渐紧张—日趋恶化—有所缓和的发展过程,其中,宋朝、新中国成立以来的工业化及城镇化建设和2016年以来“共抓大保护、不搞大开发”理念的贯彻实施是人水关系发生变化的转折时期。鉴于此,提出了长江保护目标是实现人水和谐共生,保障水沙通道、泄洪通道、航运通道、生态通道和文化通道5个通道畅通,并阐述了长江保护目标是否实现的3个判断准则:长江水生态系统健康、长江对人类发展的支持功能良好和人类为长江提供充分必要的保护。根据现阶段实际情况,提出改善长江人水关系,减少人水失衡带来的负面效应是现阶段保护目标,并建议现阶段应从解决防洪安全问题、实现水环境改善、加快水生态修复、做好长江水文化建设4个方面开展工作。

The evolution of rivers and lakes of the Yangtze River and the change of human-water relation since the geological period were reviewed based on historical data, literature and measured data. The human-water relation in the Yangtze River basin has experienced a development process from harmonious coexistence to tension, and to deterioration and then relaxation. Both the Song Dynasty and the founding of P.R.C. characterized by industrialization and urbanization and the period after 2016 featured by the implementation of “great protection rather than great development” saw the turning points of the changes in human-water relation. The target of protecting the Yangtze River is to attain a harmonious coexistence between human and water, and to ensure the free movement in five channels, namely, water and sediment channel, flood discharge channel, navigation channel, ecological channel, and cultural channel. Three criteria for assessing the protection target were expounded as the health aquatic ecosystem of the Yangtze River, the good supporting function of the Yangtze River for human development, and a necessary and sufficient protection to the Yangtze River; the corresponding specific indicators were also given. In addition, the protection target for the current stage is to improve the human-water relation and reduce the negative impacts caused by the imbalance between human and water. Efforts in four aspects should be carried out: solving the problem of flood control safety, improving water environment, accelerating the restoration of water ecology, and ameliorating water culture construction.