Land and water are two basic resources for human beings. Along with the economic development and the increase of population, the conflicts of contention for domain between human and water are becoming more and more serious in the world. Based on the research achievements in ecology, geomorphology and hydrology, the relationships between channel improvement, development of riparian zone, artificial structures and the river characteristics and flood are summarized. In addition, the present status and trends of ecological river restoration are described. It is of significance to apply the theory of landscape ecology to studying the land-use patterns related to the reduction and utilization of flood, and learn from the nature in dealing with the relationship between land-use and flood in valley.