Three decades of rapid development have taken their toll on the China’s water quality. However, on Nov. 19, China’s National Development and Reform Commission released the National Ecological Protection and Construction Plan 2013–2020 calling for increased efforts to improve water quality and erosion control in 80% of the country’s most polluted rivers, as well as the tributaries of these “critical rivers” and major drinking water sources. Additionally, the report recommends increasing the number of water conservation areas, reserves, and pilot restoration projects as well as reducing groundwater depletion. The country also plans to reduce erosion in the north and northwest through revegetation efforts.