Abstract: In view of the poor applicability of emergency water environment risk prevention and control in river basins in plateau areas at present, taking a river in a plateau area in southwest China as an example, the identification of water environment risk receptors, risk sources, water environment emergency space and facilities was carried out, the investigation and research system was constructed, and the selection and utility methods of environmental emergency space and facilities in river basins in plateau areas were proposed. The results showed that there were six types of major environmental emergency spaces and facilities suitable for the prevention and control of sudden water environmental risks in the spatial-temporal watershed in the plateau area, including reservoirs, sluice DAMS, diversion hydropower stations, dam hydropower stations, bridges, and other(emergency supplies storage,etc.).There were five types of unsuitable non-major environmental emergency spaces and facilities, including wetlands, ponds,dry river channels, river banks in the heart of the river, and temporary dam construction points. The research results could provide important references for the prevention and control of sudden water environmental risks in river basins in plateau areas.