Abstract:Based on the SWAT(Soil and Water Assessment Tool)model, the variation of water resources in Honghu Lake Basin from 1961 to 2011 was simulated. The results indicate that the SWAT model was appropriate to simulate the water resources in Honghu Lake Basin; the increasing trend of the surface runoff for nearly 51 a was nearly the same as that of the precipitation. In addition, the peak of the precipitation was in accordance with the high value of surface and underground runoff. The basin became drier in 1960s and 1970s, but after 1980s, it changed from dry to wet because of the abundant rainfall. Since the 21th century the whole basin tended to be drier again. The maximum changes in the values of the rain, surface runoff, underground runoff, actual evapotranspiration and the soil water all appeared in summer, but all these minimum values appeared in winter. However, water resources difference existed between high and low flow years, and the monthly and seasonal distribution of all elements differed greatly from each other. Therefore, the yearly water into the Honghu Lake was found to be on the slight rise and that was more obvious in spring and summer.