Abstract: The automatic canal control system based on the water level and discharge of a canal can greatly improve the operation and the water use efficiency,and reduce the operation costs.This paper introduces systematically the canal control theory and the concept of automation.A brief review on the studies of the complex long-distance water transfer projects in recent years is provided,and the problems in the literature and possible ways of improvement in the operation are discussed.The control scheme is investigated from the viewpoint of the multi-input multi-output of the system,the nonlinear model,and the stochastic disturbance.The future study in the fields of canal operation mode,control algorithm,and gate control scheme is suggested.