Prepared in cooperation with the Afghanistan Geological Survey, Ministry of Mines under the 

auspices of the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, Department of Defense

Technique for Estimation of Streamflow 

Statistics in Mineral Areas of Interest in 

Afghanistan

Open-File Report 2011–1176

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover. Photograph showing the Balkh River at Sari Puhl in northern Afghanistan.
Prepared in cooperation with the Afghanistan Geological Survey, Ministry of Mines under the 

auspices of the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations, Department of Defense

Technique for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics in 

Mineral Areas of Interest in Afghanistan

By Scott A. Olson and Thomas J. Mack

Open-File Report 2011–1176

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Afghanistan Project Product Number 232
ii

U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2011

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Suggested citation:

Olson, S.A., and Mack, T.J., 2011, Technique for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of interest in 

Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1176, 17 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1176/.

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endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report.
iii

Contents

Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Streamgages Used for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics ........................................................................................... 3

Basin Characteristics for Gaged and Ungaged Locations ............................................................................................. 6

Estimation of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations ............................................................................................ 7

Equations for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations .................................................................. 7

Application of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations.......................................................................................10

Limitations of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations .......................................................................................10

Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................11

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................................11

Appendix 1. Basin Characteristics for Streamgages Used for Estimation of Streamflow at Ungaged Locations in 

Mineral Areas of Interest in Afghanistan...................................................................................................................... 13

Figures

Figure 1. Map showing historical streamgage locations and mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan. ...................... 2

Figure 2. Graph showing drainage area verses daily streamflow exceeded 80 percent of the time (D80) for 

historical streamgages used in this investigation of mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan. ....................................... 9

Tables

Table 1. Streamgages used for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.......... 4

Table 2. Suggested drainage-area-ratio exponents for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of 

interest in Afghanistan ................................................................................................................................................... 8
iv

Conversion Factors and Datum

Multiply By To obtain

Length

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft)

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Area

square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile (mi2)

Volume

cubic meter (m3) 264.2 gallon (gal)

cubic meter (m3) 35.31 cubic foot (ft3)

Flow rate

cubic meter per second (m3/s) 70.07 acre-foot per day (acre-ft/d)

cubic meter per second (m3/s) 35.31 cubic foot per second (ft3/s)

Vertical and horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 84). 

Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.
1

Technique for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics in 

Mineral Areas of Interest in Afghanistan

By Scott A. Olson and Thomas J. Mack

Abstract

A technique for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged stream sites in areas of mineral 

interest in Afghanistan using drainage-area-ratio relations of historical streamflow data was developed 

and is documented in this report. The technique can be used to estimate the following streamflow 

statistics at ungaged sites: (1) 7-day low flow with a 10-year recurrence interval, (2) 7-day low flow 

with a 2-year recurrence interval, (3) daily mean streamflow exceeded 90 percent of the time, (4) daily 

mean streamflow exceeded 80 percent of the time, (5) mean monthly streamflow for each month of the 

year, (6) mean annual streamflow, and (7) minimum monthly streamflow for each month of the year. 

Because they are based on limited historical data, the estimates of streamflow statistics at ungaged sites

are considered preliminary.

Introduction

Afghanistan has many mineral areas of interest (fig. 1) that may be a source of economic 

opportunity for the country (Peters and others, 2007; 2011). Water is needed both for mining processes 

and to support the communities and related industries that may develop around a mining economy. 

Mining activities generally require large volumes of processing water, which may be obtained most 

economically from surface-water sources. Estimates of streamflow statistics are needed to assess 

whether sufficient water is likely to be available in local streams at various times of the year for both 

mining and community needs. Streamflow statistics, based on data collected from the mid-1940s to 

1980, are available for 150 of 174 historical streamgaging sites in Afghanistan that were operated by the 

Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water (Olson and Williams-Sether, 2010; Williams-Sether, 2008; 

Vining, 2010). In some mineral areas of interest, however, no historical gages are present (fig. 1); 

therefore, methods for estimating streamflow characteristics in these areas are needed. 
2

Figure 1. Historical streamgage locations and mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.

Mineral areas of interest (fig. 1) identified by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the 

Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS) (Peters and others, 2007) were the subject of additional study as 

part of a cooperative investigation of the USGS and the U.S. Task Force for Business and Stability 

Operations (TFBSO) from 2009 to 2011 (Peters and others, 2011). As part of this investigation, the 

USGS conducted field investigations and preliminary hydrologic site assessments, including estimation 

of surface- and groundwater resources at the mineral areas of interest. This report documents a 

technique for estimating streamflow statistics, primarily low to average flows, at ungaged sites in these 

areas. The technique, a drainage-area ratio equation with empirical factors derived by regression, was 

applied in a parallel investigation which provides estimates of streamflow statistics for selected mineral 

areas of interest in Afghanistan (Peters and others, 2011). Streamflow statistics generated with this 

technique, together with geologic data and other information, can be used by resource managers in 

Afghanistan to make economic decisions concerning the mineral areas of interest. 
3

Streamgages Used for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics

Streamflow measurements in Afghanistan were first made at a few gaged locations in the mid1940s. The number of streamgages increased over the years until the late 1970s, when Afghanistan had 

a network of approximately 160 sites. Streamflow measurements were discontinued soon after the 

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In 2005, three historical streamgages were re-established, and 

currently (2011) much of the historical network is in the process of being re-established by the 

Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW). No recent streamflow data were available for this 

study, however, and only data collected prior to 1980 were used in this analysis.

Of the 150 streamgages for which historical streamflow data were available, several criteria 

limited the number of eligible streamgages used in development of the technique for estimating 

streamflow statistics to 97. The first criterion required that streamflow at the gage be only minimally 

impacted by human activities. This criterion eliminated several streamgages that were located 

downstream from reservoirs, as well as many streamgages that were located within or downstream from 

areas of extensive irrigation. Because irrigation, which is common in Afghanistan, may complicate 

streamflow statistics, a criterion was established that basins in which greater than 10 percent of the area 

was classified as irrigated land (Afghanistan Information Management Service, 1997) were eliminated 

from the analyses. Additionally, streamgages whose basins are in the southwestern plains regions were 

eliminated from analysis because runoff characteristics in these basins are typically dominated by losses 

to groundwater and can be significantly different from the characteristics of streamflow in the 

mountainous basins that cover much of Afghanistan.

Another criterion was related to the minimum number of years of streamflow data available at a 

streamgage. For estimating flow-duration statistics, monthly and annual means, and monthly minimums, 

streamgages with as few as 4 complete water years of data collection were used in the analyses. The 

minimum number of years of available data used for streamflow estimation studies is typically 10, but 

the number of sites used in this analysis would have been severely limited had that criterion been used. 

The number of streamgages used in the final analyses was further reduced because streamgages 

having streamflow values equal to zero for the selected flow characteristics were removed from the 

analyses. This criterion was necessary because of the strong relation that exists between basin 

characteristics and the logarithm of streamflow values, and the fact that the logarithm of zero does not 

exist. After all these criteria were met, the number of streamgages used in the analyses was (1) 89 

streamgages for flow duration, (2) 93 streamgages for mean monthly streamflow and mean annual 

streamflow, and (3) 83 streamgages for minimum mean monthly streamflow. Of the 93 streamgages, 21 

had more than 15 years of record, 32 had 10 to 15 years of record, and 40 had less than 10 years of 

record. The streamgages used in the analyses are listed in table 1. 

The streamflow statistics that were used in this analysis can be found in Williams-Sether (2008), 

Olson and Williams-Sether (2010), and Vining (2010); the exception is 7-day low-flow annual series for 

each streamgage, which were computed from the daily mean streamflows available in the USGS 

National Water Information System database at http://waterdata.usgs.gov.
4

Table 1. Streamgages used for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; x, used for estimation; --, no data]

USGS streamgage 

identification number Streamgage name

Streamgage data used in the development of the 

equation for estimating:

Mean 

monthly and

annual 

streamflow

Minimum 

monthly 

streamflow

Flow 

duration

Annual 

minimum 

7-day 

streamflow 

statistics

315700066020000 Arghandab River above Arghandab Reservoir x x x x

321000066270000 Arghandab River at Mizan x x x --

323800065340000 Tirin River at Anarjuy x x x x

323800065560000 Tirin River at Tirin x x x x

324200065280000 Helmand River at Dehraut x x x x

325100062520000 Farah River near Petch Tangi x -- x --

325100063180000 Malmand River near Shawalat x x x x

325500069150000 Urgun River at Pirkoti x -- x --

325800065300000 Kaj River at Yakhdan x x x --

325800066390000 Tirin River at Urosgan x x x x

325800069090000 Dahane Legad River near Urgun x x x --

330000068520000 Park River near Park Dasht x x x --

330800067280000 Arghandab River at Sang-i-Masha x x x x

331700069360000 Spera River near Spera x x x x

332200070100000 Shumal River at Tora Tigha x x x x

332300066170000 Helmand River at Gizab x x x --

332300069530000 Matum River at Matum x x x x

333800062160000 Adraskan River at Adraskan x x x x

334200062170000 Rud-i-Gaz River near Adraskan x -- x --

334300068520000 Charkh River at Kharwar Dam Inflow x x x --

334500069480000 Gaber River near Chamkani x -- x --

334600068210000 Barikab River above Seraj Reservoir x -- x --

334800069400000 Khurram River at Doda x x x --

334800069480000 Khurram River at Chamkani x x x x

334800069530000 Khurram River at Pul-i-Bangakh x -- x --

334900069230000 Jilga River near Mechalghu x x x x

335000069390000 Khurram River at Ahmadkhel x x x --

340500068450000 Logar River at Shekhabad x x x x

340600068340000 Logar River above Band-i-Chak Wardhak x x x --

340800064120000 Kowgan River at Tangi Azu x x x x

341300063000000 Kowgan River at Langar x x x x

341400066550000 Punjab River at Waras x x x x

341400068300000 Logar River at Kajab x x x x

341400071020000 Kabul River at Dakah x x x x

341600062560000 Hari Rud River at Robat-i-Akhond x x x x
5

Table 1. Streamgages used for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; x, used for estimation; --, no data]

Streamgage data used in the development of the 

equation for estimating:

USGS streamgage Annual Streamgage name Mean identification number Minimum minimum monthly and Flow monthly 7-day annual duration streamflow streamflow streamflow statistics

342100063390000 Hari Rud at Tagaw Ghaza x x x x 

342100067290000 Markhana River at Dahane Rishqa x x x x 

342400069050000 Kabul River at Tangi Saidan x x x x 

342500069230000 Chakari River at Band-i-Amir Ghazi x x x x 

342500070180000 Surkhrud River near Sultanpur x -- -- --

342600062280000 Karukh River near Herat x x x --

342600069120000 Logar River at Sang-i-Naweshta x x x x 

342800070220000 Kabul River near Daronta x x x --

342800070330000 Konar River at Pul-i-Kama x x x x 

343000068160000 Helmand River at Gardandewal x x x x 

343100065150000 Hari Rud River at Chekhcheran x x x x 

343300065460000 Hari Rud River at Daulatyar x x x x 

343300070140000 Laghman River at Pul-i-Qarghai x x x x 

343400068110000 Syahang River near Gardandewal x x x x 

343400069240000 Kabul River at Tang-i-Gharu x x x x 

343700069430000 Kabul River at Naghlu x x x x 

343800070490000 Konar River near Konari x x x x 

344000069410000 Tagab River at Tagab x x x --

344500067000000 Balkh River near Nayak x x x x 

345000067490000 Bamyan River at Bamyan x x x --

345300071100000 Konar River near Asmar x x x x 

345400071080000 Pech River at Chaghasarai x x x x 

350200064010000 Murghab River at Qala-i-niazkhan x x x x 

350500069080000 Ghorband River at Pul-i-Ashawa x x x x 

350900069130000 Salang River at Bagh-i-Lala x x x x 

350900069170000 Shatul River at Gulbahar x x x x 

351000069170000 Panjsher River at Gulbahar x x x x 

351300062170000 Kushk River at Chil Dukhtaran x x x --

351400063280000 Bum River at Luka-i-Surkh x x x --

351600067590000 Bamyan River at Doab x x x x 

351800067550000 Kunduz River at Dasht-i-Safed x x x --

352000062550000 Kashan River at Babulai x -- -- --

352200069380000 Panjsher River at Omarz x x x x 

353500063190000 Murghab River at Bala Murghab x x x x 

353600068360000 Kunduz River at Pul-i-Konda Sang x x x x 
6

Table 1. Streamgages used for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; x, used for estimation; --, no data]

Streamgage data used in the development of the 

equation for estimating:

USGS streamgage Annual Streamgage name Mean identification number Minimum minimum monthly and Flow monthly 7-day annual duration streamflow streamflow streamflow statistics

353600068410000 Andarab River at Doshi x x x x 

355600068430000 Kunduz River at Pul-i-Khumri x x x x 

355700064540000 Shirin Tagab River at Khisht Pul x x x x 

360600068400000 Kunduz River at Baghlan x x x x 

360800066570000 Suf River near Kishandeh x -- -- --

361100066020000 Shorab River near Sare Pul x x x x 

361200065570000 Sare Pul River at Asiabad x x x x 

362200068520000 Kunduz River at Gerdab x x x x 

362700064530000 Shirin Tagab River at Daulatabad x x x --

363200064530000 Maimana River near Pata Baba x -- -- --

363500064520000 Shirin Tagab River at Pata Baba x x x x 

363500066580000 Balkh River at Rabat-i-Bala x x x x 

363500067470000 Khulm River at Sayad x x x x 

363800069430000 Farkhar River near Taloqan x x x x 

364000067420000 Khulm River at Tangi Tashqurghan x x x x 

364200069150000 Bangi River at Pul-i-Bangi x x x x 

364400069120000 Taloqan River at Pul-i-Chugha x x x x 

365500070030000 Keshem River near Keshem x x x x 

365600070520000 Kokcha River near Jurm x x x x 

365700070030000 Kokcha River near Keshem x x x x 

365800070540000 Warduj near Baharak x x x x 

370100070500000 Warduj River at Shashpul x x x x 

370500069280000 Kokcha River at Khojaghar x x x x 

Basin Characteristics for Gaged and Ungaged Locations

Drainage-basin boundaries for the streamgages were determined using a Geographic Information 

System (GIS) and a digital flow-direction grid derived from a 90-meter digital elevation model of 

Afghanistan (Chirico and Barrios, 2005). Additional dimensional basin characteristics were computed 

with ArcHydro software (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 2008), also using the digital 

elevation model. Gridded precipitation data published by the International Institute of Applied Systems 

Analyses (Leemans and Cramer, 1991) were used to determine the precipitation characteristics for each 

streamgage. The basin characteristics for the streamgages used in the study are shown in appendix 1 (at 

end of report) and may differ from characteristics reported by other studies. 
7

Estimation of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations

Methods for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged stream sites in mineral areas of interest 

were developed using a drainage-area-ratio technique, with empirical factors derived by using selected 

gages from the historical network, and individual historical gages. Although more detailed regression 

analyses that included regional, topographic, and estimated climatic variables were also examined 

during this study, the standard errors of regression and resulting flow statistics indicated that such an 

analysis could not be justified without additional, higher quality input data. 

For an ungaged site, streamflow statistics can be generated using nearby historical gages where 

available or, if no gage is near the ungaged site, a historical gage in a similar setting. One or more 

historical gages are present upstream or downstream from several of the mineral areas of interest. In this 

case, logarithmic interpretations, based on ratios of gaged to ungaged drainage areas, can be used to 

estimate streamflow statistics at an ungaged site. Estimates of streamflow statistics generated using the 

methods discussed in this report, and data from various historical gages, were used in a parallel 

investigation assessing mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan (Peters and others, 2011). Because the 

generated streamflow statistics use historical data for basins that may differ in size and hydrologic 

setting from those of the ungaged site, no information is available with which to assign a confidence to 

the streamflow statistics at the ungaged site. 

Equations for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations

The drainage-area-ratio technique is a useful method for estimating streamflow statistics when 

one or more streamgages are present in the vicinity of, or in an area with characteristics similar to those 

of, the area containing the ungaged location of interest. Typically, the drainage area of the ungaged 

point of interest is limited to being within a certain percentage of the drainage area of the streamgage. 

Published limits for this technique vary, but the rule of thumb most commonly used is to limit the size 

of the drainage area of the ungaged point of interest to ±50 percent of the size of the drainage area of the 

streamgage.

The following equation is used: 

, u u g

g

A Q Q A

 

     

= (1) 

where Au and Ag are the drainage areas of the ungaged and gaged locations, respectively, and Qu and Qg

are the streamflows at the ungaged and gaged locations, respectively. The technique relies on the 

relation commonly found between drainage area and streamflow. This relation is typically more linear 

when logarithmic units are used (fig. 2). The mean relation between drainage area and streamflow in 

logarithmic units is determined by regression for each streamflow statistic. These logarithmic relations 

are then used in the equation 

,

x

u u g

g

A Q Q A

 

     

= (2) 

where x is the slope of the relation between drainage area and streamflow in logarithmic units 

determined by regression. The exponent, x, can be found in table 2 for each of the streamflow statistics. 
8

Table 2. Suggested drainage-area-ratio exponents for estimation of streamflow 

statistics in mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.

Streamflow (discharge) statistic Drainage-area-ratio exponent

7-day low flow with 10-year recurrence interval, 7Q10 1.14

7-day low flow with 2-year recurrence interval, 7Q2 1.03

90-percent flow-duration discharge, D90 1.25

80-percent flow-duration discharge, D80 1.18

October mean monthly discharge, OCTmean 1.10

November mean monthly discharge, NOVmean 1.09

December mean monthly discharge, DECmean 1.08

January mean monthly discharge, JANmean 1.06

February mean monthly discharge, FEBmean 1.00

March mean monthly discharge, MARmean 0.92

April mean monthly discharge, APRmean 0.90

May mean monthly discharge, MAYmean 1.05

June mean monthly discharge, JUNmean 1.18

July mean monthly discharge, JULmean 1.08

August mean monthly discharge, AUGmean 1.06

September mean monthly discharge, SEPmean 1.09 

Mean annual discharge, ANNmean 1.04

October minimum monthly discharge, OCTmin 1.20

November minimum monthly discharge, NOVmin 1.19

December minimum monthly discharge, DECmin 1.18

January minimum monthly discharge, JANmin 1.21

February minimum monthly discharge, FEBmin 1.17

March minimum monthly discharge, MARmin 1.04

April minimum monthly discharge, APRmin 1.03

May minimum monthly discharge, MAYmin 1.17

June minimum monthly discharge, JUNmin 1.30

July minimum monthly discharge, JULmin 1.25

August minimum monthly discharge, AUGmin 1.29

September minimum monthly discharge, SEPmin 1.27
9

Figure 2. Drainage area verses daily streamflow exceeded 80 percent of the time (D80) for historical 

streamgages used in this investigation of mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan.
10

Application of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations

Streamflow statistics for an ungaged location can be estimated using equation 2 to provide some 

probable estimates of flow in a mineral area of interest. Ideally, the historical streamgage selected for 

use with equation 2 would be on the same stream as the ungaged location, with no intervening 

regulation. In practice, the streamgage used to calculate a streamflow statistic at an ungaged site may 

not be on the same stream and may not have the same size drainage area. The best choice for a gage 

would be a nearby gage with similar basin characteristics or, if there are no nearby gages, a gage in a 

similar region of the country (north, south, east, or west) with similar geohydrologic characteristics. For 

example, to estimate streamflow statistics at an ungaged stream in the mineral area of interest number 6 

(fig. 1), the Dusar-Shaida copper and tin mineral area of interest (Peters and others, 2007), one of the 

two historical streamgages at the eastern boundary of the area of interest, the Adraskan River at 

Adraskan or the Rud-i-Gaz River near Adraskan (table 1, appendix 1), would likely be the most 

representative historical gage for use with this method because of its proximity to the estimation point. 

Using a historical mean annual streamflow of 6.53 m3/s for the Adraskan River, a 1,950-km2 drainage 

area, and an exponent of 1.04 for mean annual discharge (table 2) with equation 2, the mean annual flow 

for a stream with a 2,900-km2 drainage area in the Dusar-Shaida area of interest is estimated to be about 

9.9 m3

/s. Statistical summaries of streamflow data for all available historical gages in Afghanistan can 

be accessed at http://afghanistan.cr.usgs.gov/water.php. 

Limitations of Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Locations

The analyses presented in this report were based on streamflow records that, for some 

streamgages, were shorter than those typically used in such analyses. It was necessary to include gages 

with short periods of record (less than 10 years) in the analyses in order to include characteristics of 

streamflow in all areas of the country. In addition, the periods of record of the gages used in the 

analyses were not necessarily concurrent. Moreover, most of the streamflow data that were used in this 

study were collected in the 1960s and 1970s; it is not known whether this time period is representative 

of the long-term hydrology of the region, nor how streamflow may have been affected by climatic 

variations over time. Any climatic changes that may have occurred since 1980 may further limit the 

accuracy of the estimated streamflow statistics. For these reasons, streamflow statistics calculated using 

the equations presented in this report are considered preliminary and should be used with an 

understanding that they may not accurately represent the streamflow in the basin of interest. Improved 

streamflow statistics can be developed when additional streamflow and climatic data become available.

This technique for estimating streamflow statistics is applicable only to basins that are 

hydrologically similar to those used in the development of the drainage-area-ratio relations. Therefore, 

the technique may not be suited for use with regulated streams in basins that consist of more than 

10 percent irrigated land. Furthermore, the equations can only be reasonably used to estimate 

streamflow statistics for sites whose basins have characteristics that are within the range of basin 

characteristics used in the development of the equations. The ranges of basin characteristics used in the 

analysis are shown in appendix 1. If the characteristics of basins of ungaged sites are outside these 

ranges, the results are considered extrapolations. 
11

Summary 

This report documents a technique for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged sites in 

mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan. The technique produces equations that can be used to estimate 

streamflow statistics at an ungaged site using a ratio of its drainage area to the drainage area of a 

hydrologically similar site with known streamflow statistics determined from streamflow data collected 

at gaged locations in Afghanistan through 1980. Equations incorporating the drainage-area ratio were 

developed for estimating the (1) 7-day low flow with a 10-year recurrence interval, (2) 7-day low flow 

with a 2-year recurrence interval, (3) daily mean streamflow exceeded 90 percent of the time, (4) daily 

mean streamflow exceeded 80 percent of the time, (5) mean monthly streamflow for each month of the 

year, (6) mean annual streamflow, and (7) minimum monthly streamflow for each month of the year. 

Improved streamflow statistics could be developed given longer streamflow records and additional 

climatic data that currently (2011) are unavailable.

References Cited

Afghanistan Information Management Service, 1997, Irrigated areas: Afghanistan Information 

Management Service, Afghanistan Shape Files, scale 1:250,000, accessed October 15, 2010, at 

http://www.aims.org.af/ssroots.aspx?seckeyt=295. 

Chirico, P., and Barrios, B., 2005, Void filled SRTM digital elevation model of Afghanistan: U.S. 

Geological Survey Data Series DS–0130, DVD, accessed June 10, 2010, at 

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/ds/ds130. 

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 2008, GIS for water resources, accessed June 10, 2010, 

at http://www.esri.com/industries/water_resources/index.html/. 

Leemans, Rik, and Cramer, W.P., 1991, The IIASA database for mean monthly values of temperature, 

precipitation and cloudiness on a global terrestrial grid: International Institute of Applied Systems 

Analyses Research Report RR-91-18, 61 p. 

Olson, S.A., and Williams-Sether, T., 2010, Streamflow characteristics in Northern Afghanistan and 

selected locations: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 529, 512 p., accessed October 15, 2010, at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/529/.

Peters, S.G., Ludington, S.D., Orris, G.J., Sutphin, D.M., Bliss, J.D., and Rytuba, J.J., 2007, Preliminary 

non-fuel mineral assessment of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007–1214, 

p. 810. 

Peters, S.G., King, T.V.V., Mack, T.J., Chornack, M.P., and others, 2011, Summaries of important areas 

for mineral investment and production opportunities of nonfuel minerals in Afghanistan: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1204, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1204/. 

Vining, K.C., 2010, Streamflow characteristics in southeastern Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey 

Data Series 508, 104 p., accessed October 15, 2010, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/508/. 

Williams-Sether, Tara, 2008, Streamflow characteristics of streams in the Helmand Basin, Afghanistan: 

U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 333, 341 p., accessed October 15, 2010, at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/333/. 
12

Appendix 1. Basin Characteristics for Streamgages Used for 

Estimation of Streamflow at Ungaged Locations in Mineral 

Areas of Interest in Afghanistan
13

Appendix 1. Basin characteristics for streamgages used for estimation of streamflow at ungaged locations in mineral areas of interest in 

Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; km2, square kilometers; m, meters; mm, millimeters]

USGS streamgage 

identification 

number

Streamgage name

Drainage 

area1

(km2)

Mean 

basin 

slope 

(percent)

Elevation 

of basin 

centroid 

(m)

Percentage of 

basin 

above 

3,000 m

Basinwide mean of monthly precipitation2

(mm) Percentage 

of basin 

consisting of 

irrigated land

OctoberNovemberDecember January

315700066020000 Arghandab River above 

Arghandab Reservoir

11,200 26.8 3,270 25.1 6.1 15.2 31.7 47.2 6.47

321000066270000 Arghandab River at Mizan 9,340 27.6 2,700 29.9 6.7 16.4 32.4 47.1 6.93

323800065340000 Tirin River at Anarjuy 8,060 24.3 1,860 10.9 5.1 12.5 28.4 44.2 7.72

323800065560000 Tirin River at Tirin 3,690 27.7 2,080 19.0 6.9 16.0 31.0 45.3 4.53

324200065280000 Helmand River at Dehraut 37,100 33.6 3,230 32.3 10.6 21.3 33.4 43.5 3.52

325100062520000 Farah River near Petch Tangi 19,400 26.1 1,840 4.75 8.0 15.1 32.2 41.0 1.59

325100063180000 Malmand River near Shawalat 1,480 27.4 1,430 4.62 3.8 10.3 24.9 34.8 0.19

325500069150000 Urgun River at Pirkoti 803 14.9 2,280 1.87 7.3 17.3 33.0 47.5 6.98

325800065300000 Kaj River at Yakhdan 11,600 31.0 2,180 9.98 9.1 15.0 29.6 39.6 3.14

325800066390000 Tirin River at Urosgan 1,060 30.9 2,860 36.6 9.3 22.1 35.9 48.4 4.71

325800069090000 Dahane Legad River near 

Urgun

177 17.2 2,410 3.99 7.0 17.1 33.0 47.5 0.97

330000068520000 Park River near Park Dasht 264 14.1 2,490 2.73 4.3 12.7 27.2 40.4 4.43

330800067280000 Arghandab River at Sang-iMasha2,170 30.6 3,210 67.0 10.7 26.5 41.5 54.6 6.50

331700069360000 Spera River near Spera 771 32.3 2,010 7.48 10.1 19.5 35.2 51.5 1.69

332200070100000 Shumal River at Tora Tigha 4,280 23.3 1,480 3.51 11.0 17.5 31.5 45.9 8.54

332300066170000 Helmand River at Gizab 20,700 34.5 2,810 50.6 12.4 27.0 37.3 46.8 3.83

332300069530000 Matun River at Matun 338 32.0 1,870 4.10 12.4 20.1 35.1 52.4 2.03

333800062160000 Adraskan River at Adraskan 1,950 26.1 2,390 7.56 7.3 16.3 32.8 42.8 4.46

334200062170000 Rud-i-Gaz River near 

Adraskan

2,140 19.4 2,420 0.71 7.1 16.6 32.0 42.7 1.57

334300068520000 Charkh River at Kharwar Dam 

Inflow

519 15.4 2,470 9.30 4.5 17.1 33.3 49.2 7.26
14

Appendix 1. Basin characteristics for streamgages used for estimation of streamflow at 

Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; km2, square kilometers; m, meters; mm, millimeters]

ungaged locations in mineral areas of interest in 

USGS streamgage 

identification 

number

Streamgage name

Drainage 

area1

(km2) 

Mean 

basin 

slope 

(percent)

Elevation 

of basin 

centroid 

(m)

Percentage of 

basin 

above 

3,000 m

Basinwide mean of monthly precipitation2

(mm) Percentage 

of basin 

consisting of 

irrigated land

Octo- Novem- Decem- January ber ber ber

334500069480000

334600068210000

334800069400000

334800069480000

334800069530000

334900069230000

335000069390000

340500068450000

340600068340000

340800064120000

341300063000000

341400066550000

341400068300000

341400071020000

341600062560000

342100063390000

342100067290000

342400069050000

342500069230000

Gaber River near Chamkani

Barikab River above Seraj 

Reservoir

Khurram River at Doda

Khurram River at Chamkani

Khurram River at Pul-iBangakh

Jilga River near Mechalghu

Khurram River at Ahmadkhel

Logar River at Shekhabad

Logar River above Band-iChak Wardhak

Kowgan River at Tangi Azu

Kowgan River at Langar

Punjab River at Waras

Logar River at Kajab

Kabul River at Dakah

Hari Rud River at Robat-iAkhond

Hari Rud at Tagaw Ghaza

Markhana River at Dahane 

Rishqa

Kabul River at Tangi Saidan

Chakari River at Band-i-Amir 

Ghazi

465

95.9

1,050

1,380

1,960

60.6

723

4,860

4,440

2,010

7,500

1,700

3,800

66,400

21,700

11,900

1,080

1,620

388

36.6

24.1

33.5

35.6

35.4

30.7

33.3

22.8

22.5

16.3

23.5

32.6

21.9

40.5

24.3

24.5

38.1

33.7

24.1

2,620

2,770

2,750

2,160

1,910

2,880

2,250

2,990

2,810

2,520

2,620

3,060

2,840

2,550

2,650

2,280

3,100

2,810

2,340

22.4

31.4

31.6

27.9

25.1

67.6

34.4

55.7

59.5

7.19

4.42

73.2

66.6

43.2

17.3

28.3

86.7

36.2

21.4

13.6

9.2

14.5

14.6

14.5

12.2

14.9

11.4

11.7

12.1

11.5

14.3

12.1

17.3

12.9

13.6

14.4

10.8

12.7

23.0

27.1

27.4

27.1

25.8

27.5

27.5

33.9

34.5

18.3

18.8

27.7

35.2

35.3

19.8

20.4

35.3

35.5

33.0

39.0

44.6

44.6

44.1

42.5

45.6

44.6

51.5

52.0

37.7

38.9

32.3

52.6

51.5

36.3

33.6

46.4

55.8

51.0

58.6

58.2

65.5

65.1

63.3

64.2

65.9

63.9

64.3

43.8

45.7

39.1

64.6

65.1

42.0

38.5

54.6

70.1

70.7

2.93

8.51

6.94

5.72

5.26

0.00

6.49

4.22

4.14

3.51

2.86

3.54

3.68

5.71

2.80

1.93

2.61

9.66

2.99
15

Appendix 1. Basin characteristics for streamgages used for estimation of streamflow at 

Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; km2, square kilometers; m, meters; mm, millimeters]

ungaged locations in mineral areas of interest in 

USGS streamgage 

identification 

number

Streamgage name

Drainage 

area1

(km2) 

Mean 

basin 

slope 

(percent)

Elevation 

of basin 

centroid 

(m)

Percentage of 

basin 

above 

3,000 m

Basinwide mean of monthly precipitation2

(mm) Percentage 

of basin 

consisting of 

irrigated land

Octo- Novem- Decem- January ber ber ber

342500070180000

342600062280000

342600069120000

342800070220000

342800070330000

343000068160000

343100065150000

343300065460000

343300070140000

343400068110000

343400069240000

343700069430000

343800070490000

344000069410000

344500067000000

345000067490000

345300071100000

345400071080000

350200064010000

Surkhrud River near Sultanpur

Karukh River near Herat

Logar River at Sang-iNaweshta

Kabul River near Daronta

Konar River at Pul-i-Kama

Helmand River at 

Gardandewal

Hari Rud River at 

Chekhcheran

Hari Rud River at Daulatyar

Laghman River at Pul-iQarghai

Syahang River near 

Gardandewal

Kabul River at Tang-i-Gharu

Kabul River at Naghlu

Konar River near Konari

Tagab River at Tagab

Balkh River near Nayak

Bamyan River at Bamyan

Konar River near Asmar

Pech River at Chaghasarai

Murghab River at Qala-iniazkhan

2,610

1,380

9,870

34,700

24,600

607

6,110

2,880

6,230

162

12,900

26,500

23,400

793

1,450

964

18,600

3,870

13,800

31.2

19.1

19.6

33.0

56.1

35.2

25.2

28.8

49.6

31.6

21.3

30.0

57.1

38.4

24.0

23.0

58.6

55.4

28.7

2,970

1,520

2,710

1,730

2,720

3,610

2,740

2,720

2,000

3,350

2,140

2,310

2,120

1,970

3,020

3,120

3,080

3,070

2,770

29.2

1.32

31.5

35.6

62.6

99.8

48.9

58.2

44.6

100

29.8

36.1

65.5

19.0

90.5

83.8

71.0

56.0

18.1

18.3

10.4

9.7

14.4

21.2

13.4

14.0

14.9

20.4

14.7

9.9

12.9

21.5

14.9

15.9

15.7

21.3

23.8

14.0

27.7

19.6

29.2

37.8

36.0

42.5

21.7

23.9

41.2

43.8

30.2

38.4

37.3

36.0

37.1

40.7

37.5

42.6

20.0

42.7

37.2

46.7

58.1

47.6

64.0

28.7

28.2

61.5

63.4

48.0

59.3

49.0

54.4

45.5

54.4

48.0

60.8

37.9

68.5

46.4

61.5

73.7

55.8

76.5

33.6

32.7

78.1

74.0

63.1

73.9

56.2

73.4

51.2

61.3

52.6

76.7

42.0

9.50

4.64

7.15

7.30

1.26

0.41

2.19

2.12

3.10

8.40

8.67

8.63

0.99

7.26

1.18

3.03

0.34

1.72

0.71
16

Appendix 1. Basin characteristics for streamgages used for estimation of streamflow at 

Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; km2, square kilometers; m, meters; mm, millimeters]

ungaged locations in mineral areas of interest in 

USGS streamgage 

identification 

number

Streamgage name

Drainage 

area1

(km2) 

Mean 

basin 

slope 

(percent)

Elevation 

of basin 

centroid 

(m)

Percentage of 

basin 

above 

3,000 m

Basinwide mean of monthly precipitation2

(mm) Percentage 

of basin 

consisting of 

irrigated land

Octo- Novem- Decem- January ber ber ber

350500069080000

350900069130000

350900069170000

351000069170000

351300062170000

351400063280000

351600067590000

351800067550000

352000062550000

352200069380000

353500063190000

353600068360000

353600068410000

355600068430000

355700064540000

360600068400000

360800066570000

361100066020000

361200065570000

362200068520000

Ghorband River at Pul-iAshawa

Salang River at Bagh-i-Lala

Shatul River at Gulbahar

Panjsher River at Gulbahar

Kushk Riverat Chil Dukhtaran

Bum River at Luka-i-Surkh

Bamyan River at Doab

Kunduz River at Dasht-i-Safed

Kashan River at Babulai

Panjsher River at Omarz

Murghab River at Bala 

Murghab

Kunduz River at Pul-i-Konda 

Sang

Andarab River at Doshi

Kunduz River at Pul-i-Khumri

Shirin Tagab River at Khisht 

Pul

Kunduz River at Baghlan

Suf River near Kishandeh

Shorab River near Sare Pul

Sare Pul River at Asiabad

Kunduz River at Gerdab

4,040

488

202

3,550

2,320

1,240

5,030

3,740

5,290

2,230

20,500

12,600

3,740

17,500

3,240

19,800

3,080

3,710

7,100

23,000

42.2

48.3

48.5

49.7

15.9

16.3

32.8

30.2

15.9

48.7

26.6

35.4

43.7

36.8

24.2

35.3

28.1

20.6

22.7

33.2

2,170

2,900

3,250

3,750

1,320

1,410

4,060

3,240

987

2,850

2,260

2,420

2,410

2,010

1,360

1,330

1,700

1,400

1,920

1,210

53.0

46.0

63.9

77.9

0.03

0.16

61.9

73.5

0.08

87.3

12.3

59.7

38.7

51.4

2.05

46.3

21.6

10.1

14.3

40.2

13.4

15.1

16.8

23.3

10.0

17.2

14.7

15.0

12.2

25.5

14.9

14.3

16.0

14.3

11.5

13.8

12.0

11.7

12.4

13.3

44.4

49.3

52.6

64.1

20.8

20.5

41.4

36.6

20.1

67.9

20.2

40.9

51.3

42.6

19.9

41.5

32.0

22.6

22.9

39.9

68.0

80.2

85.5

97.7

34.2

45.0

57.1

45.8

40.9

100.6

39.9

56.6

81.7

61.4

36.1

59.5

42.4

33.7

35.1

56.9

80.7

93.6

99.4

108.8

45.6

47.8

64.9

50.8

48.5

109.8

43.8

64.0

93.0

69.7

42.9

67.7

48.0

39.4

40.5

65.0

4.64

4.19

0.72

2.07

2.44

0.67

3.11

0.84

3.08

1.34

0.88

2.01

3.93

2.47

2.82

3.16

1.42

4.91

3.84

4.27
17

Appendix 1. Basin characteristics for streamgages used for estimation of streamflow at 

Afghanistan.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; km2, square kilometers; m, meters; mm, millimeters]

ungaged locations in mineral areas of interest in 

USGS streamgage 

identification 

number

Streamgage name

Drainage 

area1

(km2) 

Mean 

basin 

slope 

(percent)

Elevation 

of basin 

centroid 

(m)

Percentage of 

basin 

above 

3,000 m

Basinwide mean of monthly precipitation2

(mm) Percentage 

of basin 

consisting of 

irrigated land

Octo- Novem- Decem- January ber ber ber

362700064530000

363200064530000

363500064520000

363500066580000

363500067470000

363800069430000

364000067420000

364200069150000

364400069120000

365500070030000

365600070520000

365700070030000

365800070540000

370100070500000

370500069280000

Shirin Tagab River at 

Daulatabad

Maimana River near Pata 

Baba

Shirin Tagab River at Pata 

Baba

Balkh River at Rabat-i-Bala

Khulm River at Sayad

Farkhar River near Taloqan

Khulm River at Tangi 

Tashqurghan

Bangi River at Pul-i-Bangi

Taloqan River at Pul-i-Chugha

Keshem River near Keshem

Kokcha River near Jurm

Kokcha River near Keshem

Warduj near Baharak

Warduj River at Shashpul

Kokcha River at Khojaghar

4,390

8,600

13,700

18,100

8,230

4,170

8,280

4,480

10,000

2,180

7,770

16,900

3,380

4,460

20,900

22.4

16.6

18.3

29.1

20.5

52.5

20.7

42.2

43.8

47.2

55.9

48.7

50.3

50.2

46.7

1,320

628

778

1,900

2,350

3,920

2,370

1,780

4,210

2,140

2,830

2,060

4,700

4,020

3,470

1.51

0.48

0.78

34.3

10.4

61.8

10.3

29.3

40.2

41.8

80.4

61.4

85.8

81.1

54.2

10.9

9.9

10.2

12.6

9.6

25.9

9.5

16.7

21.0

25.1

32.5

28.7

29.5

29.5

27.2

20.6

19.8

20.2

28.0

31.1

64.7

31.0

46.8

54.4

56.1

73.4

61.8

61.9

61.7

58.6

35.4

36.9

36.2

36.4

43.5

87.8

43.3

69.7

76.3

73.1

91.5

76.2

73.8

72.9

72.8

43.6

46.8

45.6

41.2

49.1

91.3

48.9

78.1

82.1

75.6

90.6

75.2

70.9

69.1

72.9

4.48

5.41

5.14

1.71

2.21

1.96

2.23

5.40

5.61

3.71

1.25

1.88

1.64

2.62

1.94

1

2

Drainage area calculated by this study may differ from that reported by other studies.

Precipitation estimates from Leemans and Cramer (1991).
Prepared by the Pembroke and West Trenton Publishing 

Service Centers.

For more information concerning this report, contact:

Director

U.S. Geological Survey

New Hampshire-Vermont Water Science Center

331 Commerce Way, Suite 2

Pembroke, NH 03275

dc_nh@usgs.gov

or visit our Web site at:

http://nh.water.usgs.gov
Olson and Mack—Technique for Estimation of Streamflow Statistics in Mineral Areas of Interest in Afghanistan—Open-File Report 2011–1176