The main purpose of the dam is flood control but it supports a hydroelectric power station and creates the lower reservoir for the Kisenyama Pumped Storage Plant.

The dam withholds a reservoir called Lake Hōō (鳳凰湖, Hōō-ko, lit.

The dam also has structural volume of 2,338,000 m3 (82,565,691 cu ft) and withholds a reservoir of 7,227,000 m3 (5,859 acre⋅ft) of which 5,408,000 m3 (4,384 acre⋅ft) is active storage.

From the upper reservoir, water can be released back down to the power station 34°53′30″N 135°51′34″E / 34.89167°N 135.85944°E / 34.89167; 135.85944 (Kisenyama Pumped Storage Plant) where the two 233 MW reversible Francis turbine pump-generators use it for power production.

The first generator of the pumped-storage power station was operational in January 1970, and the second in July of that year.