ABSTRACT With the development of human civilization and the rapid progress of urbanization, the water environment and aquatic ecology need more systematic treatment to support the construction of ecological civilization and sustainable development. Based on a large number of research results and from the four dimensions including governance concept, governance technology, management and control platform and engineering strategy suggestions, this study systematically analysed the cutting-edge concepts such as reverse-driven governance, explored the application of key technologies such as remote sensing in the water environment and water ecological governance, put forward strategic suggestions on building an intelligent analysis and decision-making platform and avoiding great leap forward-style vanity projects in the water environment and aquatic ecology governance. Finally, six cutting-edge governance concepts, four key technologies, two types of governance and control platforms and two engineering strategies were sorted out and formed a governance system covering concept guidance, technical support, platform integration and application, and engineering strategy guarantee. The research enriches the theory of the water environment and aquatic ecology governance, and has important reference value for policy-making and engineering practice of watershed water environment and aquatic ecology governance.