Chinit River

[6] Its width varies in the range of 60–90 metres (200–300 ft) over a total river stretch of 110 kilometres (68 mi).

[6] The river passes through the Bolaven Plateau of Laos, reaches its highest elevation point, 288 metres (945 ft), at Phumi Chrach,[1] and ends at its outflow point on Tonlé Sap Lake at an elevation of 5 metres (16 ft).There are gentler slopes noted towards the downstream.

[7] According to the data sourced to the Hydrologic Water Year Book of Mekong Committee, the basin's climatic parameters recorded at the Kampong Thmar station, are; an average annual temperature of 27.8 °C (82.0 °F) with a minimum of 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) in December and maximum of 29.8 °C (85.6 °F) in March.

[9] A multipurpose project envisaging benefits of irrigation, flood control, fisheries and hydro power generation was planned in 1971 to cover a command area of 48,000 hectares (120,000 acres).

A pumping station was also planned at Kampong Thmar to provide irrigation for an area of 7,600 hectares (19,000 acres).

[5] The project only partial irrigation as the canal system was built for only a short length of 40 kilometres (25 mi).

[11] Consequent to this, a fresh start was made by launching The Stung Chinit Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure Project (SCIRIP), with technical and financial inputs of US$ 23.8 million equivalent from the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Agence Française de Développement and the beneficiaries.

It included improvements to the drainage infrastructure, 150 kilometres (93 mi) of rural roads, six markets, and extension services.

All phases have been satisfactorily implemented but some longer-term income restoration activities are still ongoing and require post-project monitoring".

[15] The Chinit River basin land use distribution is 75.5% under forest cover, 14.8% under paddy cultivation and the balance area is under other agricultural uses.

Map showing the looping course of the Chinit River and the Tonlé Sap lake and river system