AENV has been developing a management framework that addresses the cumulative environmental effects of oil sands activities on the local resources. One of the main concerns is the potential effects to groundwater and surface water from current and future projects in the region. To address this, AENV has developed Water Management Frameworks to guide stewardship of water during future growth. The principal goal of these frameworks is to manage cumulative effects using science-based policy. This will challenge all water users to respond to adaptive and cooperative management principles to achieve the intended goal. This summarizes the process of developing the first-of-its-kind Groundwater Management Frameworks for Alberta’s oil sands, and associated performance monitoring systems, to support sustainable development of Canada’s resources.