The available literature on the Muskeg River and its tributaries was critically reviewed as a background for monitoring' studies conducted on the river in 1980. The review indicated that the literature provides a basic description of the ecology of selected streams within the Muskeg River basin. The description, particularly the water quality and periphyton portions, suffers from certain inconsistencies in the data both within and among studies, and from unresolved disagreements in interpretation among investigators. Baseline data available on hydrology, benthic invertebrates, plankton and fish are generally useful, but additional information is desireable on streamflow near the Alsands site, the benthic fauna of soft substrates (particularly chironomids), specific areas of critical habitat for fish, and the numbers of Arctic grayling using the river.