Recently, SL/T 879-2026 Technical Specifications for Ecological Restoration of River and Lake Bank Slopes, a Water Resources Standard of the People’s Republic of China, compiled by Geotechnical Engineering Department of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), has been approved and released by the Ministry of Water Resources. The standard will officially come into effect on August 25, 2026.

This standard is a newly developed water resources standard, comprising 8 chapters and 14 annexes. Its main contents include general provisions, terminology, basic requirements, foundational data, layout of ecological restoration for river and lake bank slopes, selection and arrangement of bank slope structures, key technical points for design and implementation, as well as monitoring and operation maintenance. It is applicable to the ecological restoration of river and lake bank slopes.

The release and implementation of this standard fill a long-standing gap in technical standards for ecological restoration of river and lake bank slopes in China, and improve the standards system for embankment protection of water projects. Closely aligned with the National Water Network Construction Planning Outline and the 15th Five-Year Water Security Guarantee Plan, the standard balances flood control safety and ecological security, standardizes the technical requirements for ecological restoration of river and lake bank slopes, and provides key technical guidelines for supporting river and lake systematic management and long-term maintenance, and helping to build safe, vibrant, and happy rivers and lakes.

Next, NHRI will strengthen the promotion and training of the standard, establish a robust feedback mechanism for its implementation, continuously track technical development in the sector, and ensure the standard remains scientific, advanced, and practical, to play a significant role in building people-satisfied happy rivers and lakes.