Under contract from Turkey's State Hydraulic Works, Özdoğan Group began construction on the dam in 2008.

[4] In July 2012 and May 2014 suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants set fire to equipment at the construction sites of the Beyyurdu Dam and also the Aslandağ Dam which is located upstream.

[5][6] The reported purpose of the dam is water storage and it can also support a hydroelectric power station in the future.

[2] Another purpose of the dam which has been widely reported in the Turkish press is to reduce the freedom of movement of PKK militants.

Blocking and flooding valleys in close proximity to the Iraq–Turkey border is expected to help curb cross-border PKK smuggling and deny caves in which ammunition can be stored.