东太湖是长江中下游地区典型的草型湖泊，是太湖的浅水湖湾和主要出水通道，也是上海市、浙江省杭嘉湖城镇供水取水口的主要来水水源和江苏省吴江市的供水水源地，具有防洪、供水、水生态环境保护和水产养殖等多种功能。近半个世纪以来在自然和人为因素的长期作用下，东太湖水面不断缩小，湖泊形态和水生态环境遭到严重破坏，湖泊衰亡进程加快，其行洪、供水、水生态环境保护等湖泊良好的服务功能无法正常发挥。回顾东太湖的演变历程，初步探讨了东太湖水面萎缩的现状及对湖泊功能的影响，并针对目前规划采取的治理措施提出了几点看法，供湖泊治理参考。

The east Taihu Lake which have the functions of flood control, water supply, water environment protection and aquiculture is the representative grasslike lake in the middle and lower reaches of Changjiang River, it is also the main water exit and adlittoral arm of lake of Taihu Lake and the main water resources of Shanghai City, Jiachenghu town of Zhejiang Province and Wujiang City of Jiangsu Province. For almost half a century the surface of east Taihu Lake constantly reduced by the long-term effect of the natural and artificial factors. The shape of lake and the water environment were seriously damaged which made the process of lake's decay become more faster and cramped the functions of discharge, water supply and water environment protection. This article reviewed the evolution of east Taihu Lake and initially discussed the actuality and effect on the lake's function of the shrinking of surface of east Taihu Lake. And also, several suggestions were carried out for reference on the present treatment plans of the lake.