Abstract: Miju River, an important water source for Lake Erhai, has always been playing an important role in the eco-system of
Erhai Lake. From early on the Bai people who have long inhabited this area started flood-control. By canalizing Luoshi River, and
Yong'an River later, they did long and large-scale projects on Miju River, finally turning these flood-prone areas into rich farmlands.
Their unique wisdom and the valuable experience from those early efforts is not only instructive for the conservation of Erhai Lake
today, but also helpful for the management of highland lakes in other regions.

Key words: Bai people, Erhai Lake, river management