The short-term variation of salinity and temperature in a dyked estuarine environment is mainly controlled by the freshwater discharge from the dyke. We examined the distribution of salinity and temperature by the freshwater discharge in the Yeongsan River estuary using the CTD data obtained from 8 stations through three surveys in June (weak discharge) and August (intensive discharge), 2010. During the weak discharge in June, the surface salinity showed 30-32.5 psu and its horizontal gradient was relatively high around Goha-do (0.25~0.32 psu/km). On the other hand, the salinity of the bottom layer was almost constant in the range of 33 psu. Water temperature ranged and displayed higher gradient in north-south direction than the gradient of east-west direction. During the intensive freshwater discharge on August 12, the salinity dropped to 9~26 psu. The maximum horizontal gradient of surface salinity reached 3.8 psu/km in the north of Goha-do where the strong salinity front was formed, and the horizontal salinity gradient of bottom layer was 0.28 psu/km. The horizontal gradient of water temperature was in the surface and in the bottom with high surface temperature near the dyke and decreasing gradually to the river mouth. After 3 days of the intensive discharge ( survey), the surface salinity increased to 22~26 psu. However, there still existed relatively high horizontal gradient around Goha-do. In the mean time, the bottom salinity decreased to 26.5~27.5 psu, but its gradient was not big as much as the surface gradient. According to time series of CTD profile near the dyke, the discharged fresh water jetted down temporarily and then recovered gradually with the recovering speed of 0.4 m/hour for the discharge case of ton. Due to the combined effects of freshwater discharge and surface heating during the summer of 2010, the Yeongsan estuary, in general, underwent intensified vertical stratification, which in turn caused the inhibition of vertical mixing, especially inside area of estuary. Based on the spatial distribution of salinity and temperature, the Yeongsan estuary can be divided into three regions: the Goha-do area with strong horizontal gradient of salinity and temperature, inner estuary from Goha-do to the dyke with low salinity, and outer estuary from Goha-do to the coasts with relatively high salinity.