Using the hydrology monitoring data in Lake Poyang area during 1952-2011, the characteristics and variations of lowwater level in Lake Poyang in recent 60 years were analyzed. Possible mechanisms for the variations of low-water level changes in Lake Poyang were discussed, i. e. influences from precipitation within the basin, inflows from the five rivers within the catchment, and from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, and lake basin topography. The results showed that the low-water level status was aggravating in the last 11 years, especially in the last 5 years, since the inflows from the five rivers were decreased due to less precipitation in Lake Poyang Basin. Secondly, the control of low-water level in Lake Poyang by inflows from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River was strengthened during the past 10 years, especially the effects were enhanced after the operation of the Three-Gorge Dam.