The Department, established in 1956 (called Dep. of Hydrology before 1979), is responsible for the research on principles and methods of sustainable development and planning for water resources, theory and methods of macroeconomic based water resources development analysis and decision making, hydrological and water resources information management system, decision making support system of flood control planning and operation, study on flood and real time flood control and forecast system, reservoir optimal operation, water resources assessment and groundwater simulation technology, agricultural water resources, environmental assessment of water project, application of GIS in the field of water resources, as well as hydrological and water resources outdoor experiments, etc.

In the recent years, the Department took part in many state and ministry major research projects and national key programs, including North China water resources development and management, Optimal operation of Three Gorges Hydropower Station, Agriculture development in Huang-Huai-Hai plain, Water resources development and utilization of the Yellow River, Water resources development strategy in Northwest China and a lot of research projects/consultant work jointly with the related provinces and sectors. Meanwhile, it took part in the feasibility study on the Three Gorges Project and the study of the Project of Water Transfer from South to North.

The Water Resources Decision Supporting System (WR-DSS), developed in the 8^th five-year plan key program in Science and Technology, has been widely applied and improved in the project--- Study on reasonable water resources development and utilization and ecological and environmental protection in Northwest China, the 9^th five-year plan key program in Science and Technology

The Automatic Hydro-regime Forecasting System developed by the Department has been applied to more than 30 reservoirs and basins, and brought about tremendous social and economic benefits

The International Cooperation is one of the Department¡¯s major activities. The major international cooperation projects are: North China Water Resources Management Study and Master Plan of Water Resources Development in North Xinjiang funded by UNDP and UNEP; Water Resources Development in North Hainan funded by ADB, Water Sector Development Strategy in China, Assessment of Water Sector in Guizhou, Cost Recovery Study of Water Sector in China funded by ADB; Assessment of Water Resources Plan Project in Sudan, Water Resources Economic Model of the Yellow River, China Irrigation Agriculture Enhancement (second stage) funded by the World Bank; Development of Decision Support System for Planning of Reservoir Regulation in China funded by Swedish government; Resources and Environment Protection in Tarim funded by CIDA; Design of Liwagu Hydropower Station in Malaysia. It has accumulated international cooperation experiences on the basis of the implementation of these projects and has a good reputation in the world engineering consultation field.

The Department has an Information Office and the largest water resources information database in China. It also has a Hydrological and Water Resources Experimental Station, located in Ranzhuang, Hebei Province, which has been operated for 11 years and accumulated a lot of observational and experimental data.
 

The Department has a total of 44 staff, including 25 senior engineers. Among them, 9 have doctor degree and 16 have master degree. Their ages range between 30 to 40. The Department is a young scientific group with high technical level and strong competitive capability.

The Department maintains widespread scientific exchange and cooperation with most regions in China and more than 20 countries and international organizations in the world. Study tours abroad, professional visits, and training courses are available for Department staff. Foreign famous experts often visit the Department for scientific exchange and cooperation. The Department also admits foreign students/postgraduates and trains postgraduates for master and doctor degrees.

The improvement of basic facilities and the establishment of information network will further enhance the Department's abilities in raising work efficiency as well as in national and international scientific exchange.