Abstract: The ecological flow database of hydropower projects in China is built by analyzing the environmental impact assessment reports of 96 hydropower projects from 2001 to 2015 in aspects of project status, hydrological characteristics, fish status and ecological base flow using statistical method in association with ArcGIS platform. The differences in calculation method, spatial-temporal distribution, release type, guarantee measures and monitoring measures of ecological flow before and after the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline 2006 were examined, and the ecological benefits of such differences for endangered fish protection in the downstream of dam were analyzed. Moreover, the effectiveness of guaranteeing the ecological flow after the implementation of Guideline 2006 is presented, and meanwhile, shortcomings and countermeasures are expounded as well. In conclusion, the major limits of ecological flow practice of hydropower project in China are summarized, and future development trend is put forward respecting the calculation principle, flow process demand, joint dispatching of cascade reservoirs, and research on ecological restoration.

Key words: ecological flow, calculation method, hydropower project, environmental impact assessment, ecological restoration