Plans for the dam first began in 1958 when the Electrical Works Survey Administration studied the river for hydropower potential.

By 1979, Turkey's State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and Japan's Electric Power Development Company completed feasibility studies.

In 1986, DSI began preliminary works which included access roads and the diversion tunnels.

The dam passes flood waters with a gated weir spillway that is located on its crest.

The dam's power station is embedded in its body at the base and contains three 171 MW Francis turbine-generators.

The list of villages affected were as follows: Those administratively under Sinop's Saraydüzü : Yaylacılı, Fakılı, Akbelen, Hacıçay, Yalmansaray, Those administratively under Samsun's Vezirköprü: Susuz, Darıçay, Aşağı Darıçay, Kızılkese, Alanköy, Those administratively under Çorum's Osmancık : Aydın, Aşağı Zeytin, Yukarı Zeytin, Pelitçik, Aşıkbükü, Kalimavlağı, Those administratively under Çorum's Kargı : Avşar, Bağözü, Örencik, Saraycık, Sinanözü, Karaboya, Maksutlu, Köprübaşı, Demirören, Karapürçek, Gökçedoğan, and Karacaoğlan.

[9] The investment was expected to generate 1 500 *106kWh per year worth 150 million TRL, a small but welcome correction to the 70% energy trade deficit of the country.