The institution started to undertake continuous and systematical studies on irrigation, reclamation, flood control, navigation, water storage and distribution.

in 1925, soon after the foundation of the Turkish Republic, regional offices were opened in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Edirne and İzmir under the "Waters Directorate".

Major functions of the regional offices are primarily collection of data in the field of mapping, conducting hydrometric measurements, surveying agricultural economy, land classification, drainage, groundwater and geology, and secondly to evaluate them for the planning, construction and operation of water structures.

State Hydraulic Works has currently 24 HEPPs throughout the country under construction with a total installed capacity of 2,722 MW and annual generation of 8,920 GWh.

The project area covers the lower parts of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the 9 provinces of the region (Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Siirt, Batman, and Şırnak), where a total of 6.5 million people live as of the 2000 census.

Within the scope of these 13 projects, 27,000 GWh hydroelectric energy will be produced annually with 7.5 GW installed capacity and 18,200 km2 of land will be irrigated with the construction of 22 dams and 19 HEPPs.

It conducts activities on development of sustainable water resources, both independently and in collaboration with other related governmental and non-governmental organizations.

State Hydraulic Works also provides financial and technical support to protect archaeological and historical sites for the next generations.

One of the basic duties and responsibilities of State Hydraulic Works is building and operating protective structures against floods.