The development of the world's largest open-cast uranium mine at Rossing in the Central Namib Desert introduced rapidly increasing demands for water to the area in the early 1970's (Huntley 1985). The consequence of the increased use of the water resources of the Kuiseb basin was believed to have a major influence on the ecology of the linear oasis which is maintained by flood waters of the Kuiseb River. A multi-disciplinary study co-ordinated by the CSIR's Foundation for Research Development was then conducted to develop a monitoring baseline. Keywords: Namibia, Namib Desert, Kuiseb River, Kuiseb Basin, river basin management, arid zone research, hydrology, geomorphology, water availability, water quality, surface water, groundwater, water balance, geophysics, geohydrology, desert flora, arid ecosystem, arid environment.