SHENYANG: The local government is to help revive the dried-up Wolong Lake, one of the largest lakes in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, with recycled water.

Sun Qinmin, chairman of Shenyang Northern Sewage Treatment Factory said yesterday that treated sewage water would first be channelled into a nearby power station to be used for its cooling system. Following this, some of the water would go on to replenish the parched Wolong Lake.

The power station channel project will start next month and is slated for completion in two years time. It will then provide 29 million tons of water annually and would "partly ease the thirst of Wolong Lake," added Sun.

Wolong Lake lies in Kangping County, 120 kilometres northwest of Shenyang, the provincial capital. Its total water volume reached 96 million cubic metres before 2000, then ranking it as the second biggest lake in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. In 2001, it was even listed as a provincial natural protection area due to its ecological importance.

But due to dry weather and exploitation by businesses over the past three years, the majority of the lake's bed is now visible as sandy land. "The lake served as a kind of environmental guard for Shenyang and its neighbouring cities. The aftermath of Wolong Lake's drying up will be disastrous," said Liu Detian, deputy chief of Green Liaoning, a local non-governmental environment organization.

Liu explained that the bottom of the lake is made up of sand and could well become a new source of sandstorms in surrounding areas, unless water is reintroduced soon.

In a bid to halt the complete disappearance of the lake, the government of Shenyang last year created the Wolong Restoration Team, headed by the vice-mayor, to carry out an environmental evaluation late last year.

In February, a special Wolong natural protection office was also set up to take care of the restoration work.

However, experts are still worried about the lake's future, voicing concerns as to the fragility of the lake's ecosystem.

"Natural restoration is the best choice," argued Wang Dianwu, chief of the Liaoning Water Conservation Bureau.

Wang said he believes that the lake's restoration is dependent on both man and nature.

The human factor is to restore all the natural aspects around Wolong Lake, including geographical features, water flow and plants.

Nature can assist with the provision of abundant rainfall. This is key to solving the problem, Wang believes.

Furthermore, all constructions that obstruct the flow of rainwater into the lake should be removed. Efforts should also be made to restrict the farming of fish in or around the lake.

Northeast China's Liaoning is endowed with rich wetlands and lake resources, but their survival faces many challenges against a background of rapid economic development. Officials from the Liaoning provincial government said legislation on wetland and forestry protection is under way.

With the power station channelling project and plentiful rainfall in the coming decade, it is hoped that Wolong Lake can be returned to something resembling its former glory. Wang remains optimistic.

"I believe the lake will regain its past appearance within the next six to seven years if the heavens are obliging enough, which means normal rainfall," he said.