An aerial view of the Qiandao Lake Reservoir Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station. [Photo/Hangzhou News]

The Qiandao Lake Reservoir Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station in Chun'an county, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has been officially approved as a field scientific observation and research station under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The station was launched in 2021 and covers 1 hectare. It features laboratories, meteorological and hydrological observation facilities, aquatic experiment platforms, and an aquatic plant testing area.

As the CAS's first field station dedicated to a reservoir ecosystem, it also ranks as China's first field station focused exclusively on a deep reservoir that serves as a drinking water source. The station has established a multi-scale monitoring system covering the watershed, reservoir, and area upstream of the dam, integrating satellite remote sensing, drone-based hyperspectral imaging, ground monitoring stations, and water-based monitoring platforms.

Its research focuses on four areas: physical processes in the reservoir; ecosystem evolution; pollutant behavior and water safety; and watershed processes and water resource security.

Since its establishment, the station has studied nutrient transport, the impacts of extreme hydrological events, and the mechanisms behind algal blooms. It has also developed China's first operational forecasting and early-warning system for reservoir water quality and algal blooms, while advancing technologies for remote water-quality monitoring and ecological restoration.

The station is expected to provide stronger scientific support for protecting Qiandao Lake, an important source of drinking water, and promoting sustainable development in Chun'an.