Abstract: In recent years, the upstream inflow of Three Gorges reservoir (TGR) is decreasing and in the upper reaches controlling reservoirs are being built up and running successively. Meanwhile, the requirements of flood control, power generation, navigation, etc. on TGR are enhanced increasingly. In these new circumstances, the reservoir's original design operation mode cannot satisfy the latest demands very well and may cause a great amount of flood resources to be wasted. This paper describes new hierarchical operation rules and multiple schemes for TGR to regulate water level according its inflow of small and medium floods through analysis on the historical record of its special water levels and outflows. Results indicate that without lowering the design flood control standard, these new rules can significantly improve the regulation in flood season and the comprehensive utilization benefits, in alleviating the pressure in lower reaches via more reasonable flood interception, extending navigation period, and utilizing flood resources more effectively. Compared with the original operation, the annual average power output during flood season is increased by 8%.