Hydrology and Development of the Arun River, Nepal

The Arun River drains a large area of the Tibetan Plateau before crossing the Himalaya into Nepal where its discharge increases dramatically. The steep gradient and relatively high dry-season flow of the Arun have led to plans for major hydroelectric development. Little information about the hydrology of the Arun basin was available to guide the planning efforts. This review of the limited knowledge concerning this river basin illustrates the unique features of Himalayan hydrology that must be considered when assessing the potential for water resources development in this region.