The diverted water fills the concrete New York Canal, the primary irrigation channel for Ada and Canyon counties in the Treasure Valley.

In March 1906, the Utah Fire Proofing Company began work on the Boise River Diversion Dam with the provision that the structure would be completed within one year.

[citation needed] Inclement weather and flooding caused at least two months' worth of delays and forced the crews to rebuild part of the structure.

And to make matters worse in March 1909, a log foreman "maliciously" removed the boom above the dam and allowed timber roll over the embankment causing $73,000 worth of damage.

The original governors, slate control panels, transformers, overhead crane, and generator housings, although no longer functional, were retained for historic purposes.