Flathead Lake is located on the Flathead River in northwestern Montana, on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. It is 28 miles long and, at its broadest point, 15 miles wide. Inflow to the lake is generated from a watershed of over 7,000 miles. Water flowing out of the lake is released into the lower Flathead River. The southern half of Flathead Lake is within the reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation (CSKT), which encompasses 1,244,000 acres.

Kerr Dam

Within the Reservation is the Kerr Project, which includes a dam and powerhouse located approximately four miles downstream from the natural outlet of Flathead Lake. The Kerr Project is operated for multiple purposes, including hydroelectric generation, flood control, irrigation, and conservation of fish and wildlife resources.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses and inspects non-Federal hydropower projects through its authority under the Federal Power Act. The Kerr Project currently operates under a joint license issued by FERC in 1985 to the Montana Power Company and the CSKT, and subsequently amended several times.