[citation needed] In response to concerns over Mosul Dam's karst foundation, Iraqi's Ministry of Irrigation began construction in 1988.

As early as December 2005, Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources was developing a project to restart construction on the dam.

Currently, it would cost about US$300 million to complete the initial design but the Government of Iraq is wary of spending an additional US$10 billion to expand the dam's size in order to help mitigate a potential failure of the Mosul Dam.

The concrete dam includes eight bottom outlets, a spillway and four power intakes and conduits, a stilling basin, headrace and tailrace channels.

The 61.5 m (202 ft) allowance between the normal and maximum is for flood protection from a Mosul Dam collapse.