Abstract: Water conservancy science and ocean engineering discipline in China have achieved considerable development under the support of the National Natural Science Foundation. This article aims to further clarify the subject development and guide the study orientation of water scholars. Thus, this article analyses the recent research progress of structural engineering disciplines with water science research based on the '2014 hydraulic structures and hydraulic equipment strategy research and academic exchange for young scholars' under the auspices of the National Natural Science Fund Committee, as well as on the application materials related to water subjects and expert comments. We firstly determine the 'reservoir dam engineering full life-cycle performance evolution mechanism' of the major research projects in the hydraulic structure discipline during the 13th Five-Year Plan. Then, we consider eco-hydraulic engineering and water conservancy informatisation, digitalisation, and intelligentisation as priority supports for the interdisciplinary research field. Finally, we propose that the subject is one of the critical scientific issues of the discipline that most demand urgent attention. This paper studies was beneficial to condense key scientific issues and promote the development of water conservancy scientific research for scientific researchers.