AbstractThis report, based on field work along the Colville River, Alaska, presents hydrological characteristics of the surface drainage in an area of continuous permafrost on the Arctic Slope. Water discharge was determined for the river delta during the whole hydrological year, which in 1962 lasted from May 25 to about October 20. During this period the discharge started from zero and reached about 6 000 m3/s during the flood at the beginning of June. The total water discharge during the year was 16×109m3with an average of 26 1/s/km2for the hydrological year or 10 1/s/km2for the entire year.