Indonesia's lakes are vital ecosystems facing significant degradation from pollution, sedimentation, and competing uses. Effective management is hindered by a complex and often fragmented regulatory landscape spanning multiple laws (including Water Resources Law 17/2019 as amended, Environmental Law 32/2019 as amended, and implementing regulations like PP 30/2024 and PP 22/2021) and involving numerous government agencies at national, provincial, and regency levels (e.g., KLHK, PUPR, BWS). This fragmentation leads to overlapping jurisdictions, inconsistent enforcement, and difficulties in addressing cross-cutting issues like riparian zone management, aquaculture regulation, and non-point source pollution control. Furthermore, the historical oscillation between state control mandates (influenced by Constitutional Court decisions) and deregulation pressures (seen in omnibus legislation like the Job Creation Law) adds complexity. While initiatives like the National Priority Lakes program exist, challenges persist in integrating diverse stakeholder interests, including customary rights and community-based water management practices, into formal governance structures. This abstract argues that the existing fragmented regulatory approach undermines efforts towards sustainable lake management. It calls for a more coherent legal and institutional framework that harmonizes sectoral regulations, clarifies agency responsibilities, strengthens enforcement capacity, and incorporates participatory mechanisms to ensure the long-term ecological health and equitable use of Indonesia's invaluable lake resources.