Abstract: Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, which plays an important role in guaranteeing water safety of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Affected by poor connection development caused by river-lake relationship changes for decades, problems were brought about such as water resource shortage, deteriorated water ecological environment, navigation development atrophy, and also result in insufficient flood control and drainage capacity of Dongting Lake. The mechanism of river-lake relationship changes was studied, and the trends and its influence were analyzed since the use of the upper Yangtze River control projects. To implement the national development strategies for Yangtze River Economic Belt and Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone and following the philosophy of river-lake harmony and ecological civilization, innovative ideas of Dongting Lake Great Water Vein scheme is proposed in this paper against prominent problems during Dongting Lake harnessing, development and protection. Dongting Lake Great Water Vein project can unblock the river-lake connection, restore and adjust the river-lake relationship, improve the water carrying capacity and water ecological and environmental carrying capacity of Dongting Lake, promote the coordinated development of social economy and ecological environment protection with sustainable use of water resources.