Abstract: Sediment cores were collected in November 2007 from Wanghu Lake, a river connecting lake before 1960s, in the middle reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Dating sequence of the core was established based on radioisotopes ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb. The samples of the core sediments were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), heavy metal, grain-size and pollens. The results show that two stages were recognized according to vertical variation of TOC and TN concentrations. Before 1950, both TOC and TN concentrations were low and stable, reflecting that the TOC and TN of sediment were mainly from the natural of soil nutrient cycling in surrounding. After 1950, the concentrations of TOC and TN were increasing, the maximum appeared in the surface of sediment. The vertical changes of TP was different from TN and TOC, and it was more complex relatively. Before 1920, TP concentrations were low and sable, and in the period 1920-1950, TP concentrations were lower which were probably resulted from the decline of economy and population of the Yangxin County caused by war, Schistosomiasis and frequent floods. From 1950 to 1970, with the hydraulic engineering constructions, the development of industry and agriculture, the concentrations of TP in sediment were notable increased. Since Fuchi floodgate had been finished in 1967, the lake water exchange from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River was blocked, fine soil and particle phosphorus decreased into Wanghu Lake from Changjiang River, and the concentrations of TP in the sediment was declined. The results from Principal Component Analysis show that the concentrations of TOC and TN in sediment were mainly controlled by human activities and the changes of catchment land use, and climate had little impacted on them; the concentrations of TP were drove by two factors of human activities, erosion and transportation of runoff in catchment and the Changjiang River.