According to a continuous survey on Shibianyu Reservoir located north of the Qinling Mountains which lasted for about one and a half years and a simulation study in laboratory, conclusions were drawn as follows. The average concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were 2. 67 mg x L(-1) and 0.04 mg x L(-1), respectively, and the highest values were recorded in the high flow period followed by the median water period, while the lowest values were found in the dry period. The reservoir was in severe eutrophication and the content of chlorophyll a and algal cell density reached 50 mg x m(-3) and 10,000 x 10(4) cells x L(-1), respectively. The yearly input and output of TN was respectively 203.1 t and 181.3 t, while the yearly input and output of TP was respectively 4. 2 t and 4.1 t. Exogenous pollution accounted for more than 90% of the total load. The sediment in reservoir showed an accumulation tendency all year round and the net annual accumulation of TN and TP was 20.2 t and 0. 8 t, respectively. The key of controlling reservoir pollution is to control the endogenous pollution.