A model combining basin management and administrative management is currently adopted for the lake and river management in China. In applications, the model oppears to have problems that include the confusion of rights and responsibilities in river basin authorities and the dominant governmental agencies, and the lack of effective public participation. In this paper, using the Great Lakes Basin in the United States, the Loire-Brittany River Basin in France, the Southeast Basin in the United Kingdom, and the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia as examples, we analyze and summarize the characteristics of river and lake management models, involving the river basin authorities, dominant governmental agencies, public participation, and basin management, of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Germany. This study provides references for the integrated river basin management in China.