[5] Following the experience gained from the formation of artificial lakes behind large dams such as the Hoover Dam, Nevada and the Oued Fodda, Algeria, an ORV seismographic station was established to closely monitor induced earthquakes should they occur.

This induced seismicity is the result of the load exerted by the water column on the upper part of the crust; this load breaks the balance that existed before formation of the lake, renewing the activity of ancient and inactive faults, and/or activating planes of weakness in the rocks.

The crust's rocks contain a little amount of water in their pores; in these (sometimes microscopic) holes, many minerals exist.

It is unclear why, for 6 years after the completion of the formation of the lake in its full volume, there was seismic silence.

A possible hypothesis is that because during the winter of 1974/5 large amounts of water were released from the lake to make room for the snowmelt in the spring, the rapid filling of the snowmelt water caused a major change in the hydrostatic pressure.