In 1975, the International Hydrological Program (IHP) National Committees of the USSR, USA, Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden established the IHP working group on Northern Research Basins (NRB). The Regional Working Group on Northern Research Basins was set up to foster research of river basins in northern latitudes and, unlike other snow and ice conferences, NRB is intended specifically for Arctic environments. Iceland joined the Working Group in 1992 and Russia has since taken over the role of the USSR. Countries with polar research programs are eligible for associate membership and participation. Since 1975, twenty one symposia/workshops were held in the eight countries that span the Circum-Arctic. The 21st NRB symposium was successfully held in Melnikov Permafrost Institute in Yakutsk on 6-12 August, 2017.