Abstract: To satisfy the actual needs of the construction and development of irrigation districts under the background of high-quality development of the river basin, this work briefly summarised four aspects of engineering sediment problems existing in the canal irrigation district, from the head of the water intake to the end of the canal system. More specifically, the research progress of these problems, including the sediment problem in the canal head engineering, the treatment of coarse-grained sediment in the main canal, the theory of sediment-laden flow in the open channel and the development of sediment control strategy in the irrigation area, and the related theories and approaches in achieving the safe transportation of muddy water and regulation of water-sediment in the canal irrigation area, are reviewed and summarised. Ultimately, this work analysed and discussed the key points and goals of future work in properly solving the sediment problem in irrigation area, which is of great significance to deal with the sediment problem and ensure the long-term safe and sustainable operation of the water delivery and distribution system in large irrigation areas.