The combination of limited hydrologic data and expanded resource development in the Arctic combines to produce a dilemma; this dilemma is that we have a difficult time of coming up with estimates of the runoff response of ungauged basins in this region of the world. Northern Alaska is a perfect example of this quandary. Expanding resource development, mainly oil and gas, requires that stream crossing designs be made. Unfortunately, when the few early stream gauging measurement sites were established, limited or no complementary hydrologic or meteorological data was collected. For small and intermediate sized basins (~2000 km²) draining the foothills and mountains, the floods of record will generally be rainfall floods. Floods of record for larger basins are snowmelt generated floods. Since 1985, we have developed a meteorological and hydrological network in the central Alaskan Arctic where the causes of runoff events are documented. Through flood frequency analysis and hydrologic modelling we can generate the hydrologic response of ungauged catchements; while not perfect, it is one of the few options that we can use with some confidence to get flow peaks for a range of flow probabilities.