Abstract: Population pressure and the opening of new land in the Qing brought about the deforestation of the Taihang mountains, which led to severe soil erosion; silt then built up in the Yongding and Ziya rivers to the point where the lower reaches of the Da Qing River became increasingly clogged. Thus levees in these rivers burst and floods were more prevalent. In order to ameliorate the damage from floods, the Qing government concentrated on water control and the construction and repair of silt-damaged dykes and dams in the Yongding and Ziya rivers, but the results were not very effective. This unsuccessful process of water control was a typical reflection of the special features of water conservancy of an autocratic court in its twilight years.