The segmental Muskingum method,the Muskingum-Cunge (MC) algorithm with variable parameters and the Muskingum-Cunge-Todini (MCT) variable parameter method which reflecting the shape and hydraulic characteristics of the river cross-section were respectively used to study channel flow confluence for the Yuanling station-Wangjiahe station section inYuanshui Basin. The application effect of the routing method with distributed parameters in real river channel is discussed. The results show that the segmental Muskingum method,MC algorithm and MCT variable parameter method can all simulate pushing and tampering of flood in the river channel with high simulation accuracy,and the deterministic coefficients of MC algorithm and MCT variable parameter method are more accurate and stable than segmental Muskingum method. The MC algorithm and MCT variable parameter method improve the parameter characteristics of segmental Muskingum method well,and the MCT variable parameter method solves the problem of the inconsistency between the storage capacity and the steady state of MC algorithm. On the whole,the three methods have strong adaptability and reliability for flood frocast,and provide a new method for real-time flood forecast.