To prevent flash floods from overtopping the dam, the gates are left open during the rainy season from November 1 to April 1.

Water is released into the Dulzura Conduit via an outlet tower and a 30-inch (76 cm) diameter pipe with a capacity of 271 cubic feet per second (7.7 m3/s).

[5] This dam's sole purpose was to feed the first Dulzura Conduit, a wooden flume that extended along the mountainside to the Lower Otay reservoir 12 miles (19 km) west.

[7] In December of that year, unusually heavy rainfall filled the reservoir behind the incomplete dam, very nearly causing its failure.

Temporary sluiceways had to be maintained in order to drain excess water from the lake, which consistently threatened to overtop the dam.

[8][9] In order to protect water quality, recreational access to Barrett Lake is extremely limited.