Abstract: Strengthening sand excavation management is an important part of protecting rivers and lakes, and it's also an important measure in implementing “strengthen the supervision of water conservancy industry”. After years of efforts, it has made some achievements in river sand excavation management, but there are still many problems to be solved. This study summarized the current management status and key problems of river sand excavation management in the aspects of management system, planning and licensing, supervision, and legal responsibility. In view of the existing problems, combined with the requirements of governance by law and ecological civilization construction, the countermeasures and suggestions for further strengthening the sand excavation management were proposed, which provides a realistic basis for the national river sand excavation management and related legislation.