Hydrotechnical research in the Alberta Oil Sands has been oriented toward establishment of baseline (i.e. pre-development) environmental conditions and identification of contaminant transport mechanisms. Monitoring networks for both groundwaters and surface waters are in place and both water yield and quality are being observed. Plans are being made for research into groundwater/surface water interaction and into the geomechanical consequences of insitu extraction of bitumen using high pressure, high temperature steam injection techniques.