Part I: "documents the development of early American water law and traces the increase of public interest in the river resource"; Part II: "illustrates the environmental impacts of hydroelectric power and discusses how the Supreme Court's 1946 decision allowed the federal government unrestricted authority to license hydropower development;" Part III: "analyzes the Supreme Court's recent determination that state water quality certificates must be incorporated into federal licenses

Although the FERC has tried repeatedly to restrict the states' authority under section 401, the states can prevent degradation of the quality and uses of waterways through the development and enforcement of strong water quality standards.

In advance of FERC’s December 2001 workshop, the Hydropower Reform Coalition compiled this report to take a closer look at the 51 oldest pending hydropower dam license applications and analyze the causes and impacts of delay, followed by a series of solutions that will enable us to pass on a legacy of healthy rivers and provide a reliable energy supply to future generations.