We compared spatial and temporal variations of water chemistry between high-flow year ($HF_y$) and low-flow year ($LF_y$) in an artificial lentic ecosystem of Daechung Reservoir. The differences in the rainfall distributions explained the variation of the annual inflow and determined flow characteristics and water residence time and modified chemical and biological conditions, based on TP, suspended solids, and chlorophylla, resulting in changes of ecological functions. The intense rainfall and inflow from the watershed resulted in partial disruption of thermal structure in the metalimnion depth, ionic dilution, high TP, and high suspended solids. This condition produced a reduced chlorophyll-a in the headwaters due to low light availability and rapid flushing. In contrast, reduced inflow and low rainfall by drought resulted in strong thermal difference between the epilimnion and hypolimnion, low inorganic solids, high total dissolved solids, and low phosphorus in the ambient water. The riverine conditions dominated the hydrology in the monsoon of $HF_y$ and lacustrine conditions dominated in the $HF_y$. Overall data suggest that effective managements of the flow from the watershed may have an important role in the eutrophication processes.