Abstract: Although the economic and social benefits have been obtained from reservoirs, they have threatened the ecosystem of rivers and the maintainable development of humanity. The ecological operation of reservoir is an effective measurement of protecting healthy river, promoting the harmony of humanity and nature, and maintaining the maintainable development of water resources. This paper introduces the connotation of ecological operation of reservoirs and the status quo of the study both at home and abroad. And in combination theory of ecological operation of reservoir with practice, the methods of ecological operation on reservoir volume, sedimentation and the quality of water are analyzed and summarized.