This paper describes the distribution and change characteristics of 10 typical desert plant populations for 60a in Minqin desert area through investigation and research in the middle and lower reaches of Shiyang River water shed area. The results are as follows： with the long-run hydro-eco-environment deterioration， vegetation has changed from the original marsh， meadow vegetation to the sand， xerophyte direction. Some plant species disappeared， desertification process and vegetation evolution speeded up， and desert vegetation changed obviously. The key populations of Phragmites communis， Tamarix ramosissima and Kalidium foliatum have been deteriorated systemically， and which grows better only at river and lake banks and oasis fringes， now. Nitraria tangutorum has become into the largest natural population， which was instead of Tamarix ramosissima. However， some occurred degradation and their shrub sandbags activated. Artemisia arenaria， Calligonum mongolicum and Zygophyllum xanthoxylum in the rain-fed desert are developing and degrading with precipitation fluctuation； Ephedra przewalskii and Reamuria soongorica which belong to the super-xerophyte have been developing in the desert vegetation deteriorated process； Man-made shrub forest of Haloxylon ammodendron has been developing to a more bigger population which is near to the Nitraria tangutorum population， and occurred self-alienation and degradation， eco-function increased obviously. With the eco-water increases under the integrated program implementation in the middle and lower reaches of the water-shed area， ground water-table rises up in some surroundings， micro-wetland formed and their eco-positive development in recent years. However， ground water-table still decreases in the most desert areas， desertification develops continue. The research will provide some scientific and technological support for vegetation evolution， eco-restoration and eco-safety in the process of ecological change in inland River basin.