Abstract: The flow regime is recognized as a key factor determining biological and physical processes and characteristics in a river. But water projects can substantially change the natural flow regimes of water bodies around the world. The IHA method is used in this paper to evaluate the effect of Gezhou Dam on the hydrologic regimes of Yangtze River using historical streamflow records obtained before and after the building of the dam. In general, the effect of Gezhou Dam on the hydrologic regimes of Yangtze River is rather limited, although it changes parameters such as rising and falling rates to some extent due to the limited storage capacity of the reservoir.

Key words: water projects, IHA method, hydrological characteristics