The law says dam operators "shall give equal consideration" to power production, wildlife and recreation.
The dam operators apparently sounded a warning siren shortly before the dam failed.
In the state capital of Helena at the time, Gerry received a telephone call from the dam operators alerting him to the dam's destruction.
The dam operators were not sensitive to this need, releasing insufficient water at inappropriate times.
Having destroyed the salmon runs on which the Indians used to depend, the dam operators are required by law to offer something in return.
This allows the dam operators to moderate water temperatures downstream.
This structure enables dam operators to decide the depth of the reservoir from which the water feeding into the penstocks originates.
Accurate weather forecasts are essential so that dam operators can plan drawdowns prior to a high rainfall or snowmelt event.
The information gathered gives dam operators a picture of how the dam is settling or if motion of the face is occurring.
The big industries have long dictated the important political decisions affecting the river, even though Federal law requires the dam operators to give equal consideration to protecting fish.