Through the systematic analysis of the strategic environment of implementing the river chief system in China, the strengths and weaknesses of the river chief system as well as the opportunities and threats of fully implementing the river chief system at the current stage are investigated. Combined with the specific situations in China and the existing research results, some specific measures are put forward so as to ensure the efficient and smooth implementation of the river chief system and to promote the construction of regional water ecological civilization: improvement of laws and regulations, promotion of the relevant mechanism, implementation of effective propaganda, introduction of non-governmental capital, full play of public power, persistence of “one river, one policy” and realization of big data-dependent wise management.