Publication Summary

The Department's investigation was designed to examine every possible contributing factor. The investigators hoped to: 1. Determine what natural conditions existed in the river system prior to the drowning incident; 2. Determine how existing conditions (at the time of the incident) differed from the natural conditions; 3. Determine if the unanticipated surge in the system was due to natural phenomena; 4. Determine if the surge could be attributed to one or both of the man-made flow control facilities in the river system and under what conditions those facilities operate; 5. Determine whether man-controlled operations cause these surges on a repetitive basis and what procedures are practiced to protect downstream water users; 6. Determine what practical recommendations can be made to prevent a recurrence of this type of incident.