Abstract: Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has paid more attention to water management and watershed ecological environment management, and has also put forward higher requirements. In the process of watershed protection and management in China, there are still some problems, such as management issues, law enforcement issues and the most important legal issues. As the first specific law about watershed in China, the Yangtze River Protection Law of the People's Republic of China （hereinafter referred to as the Yangtze River Protection Law） pays a very important role. It responds to some problems in governance practice, and it has some innovative approaches. However, there are still some watershed issues and details that need to be further sorted out, identified and adjusted. At the same time, the Yangtze River Protection Law is the “higher-level law” and it also needs to be further develop ed with corresponding “lower-level law”. The subjects involved in the Yangtze River Protection Law should also make corresponding arrangements and implement relevant systems as soon as possible.By exploring watershed governance issues in China and the specific provisions of the Yangtze River Protection Law, in order to provide theoretical reference for watershed governance work.

Key words: watershed governance, the Yangtze River Protection Law, legal issues