Abstract: Protecting and utilizing the water resources in Yangtze River Basin has seen many problems and difficulties. In view of this,we discussed the paths of reconstructing and improving the management system and mechanism in the new era. To break the system and mechanism barriers in sustainable development,the management of water resources in the Yangtze River Basin should conform to the integrity and complexity of the basin. In the framework of coordination across the basin,we recommend to 1)build a sound system which integrates unified and separate management with overall linkage and interactions to forge a governance community for the basin with multiple stakeholders;2)enhance the mechanisms of diversified ecological compensation,cross-provincial river-lake-chief supervision,unified dispatch and management of controlling water projects,as well as spatial control and market operation. With such endeavors,the governance of water resources in Yangtze River Basin is expected to be further modernized.

Key words: Yangtze River Basin, water resources protection and utilization, management system and mechanism, sustainable development, watershed governance community