It is located in the Maya Mountains and shares adjacency with the Chiquibul National Park and the Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.

Basically, water is carried from the dam downstream to the powerhouse which protects the generating Kaplan turbines.

The Kaplan turbine generators equipped with adjustable blades, modern electronic and hydraulic systems help in the production of power.

[4][9] Most of the controversy surrounding the dam concerns its impact on the environment, specifically on the ecosystems of the Macal River and the Chiquibul Forest.

As described in a report commissioned as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the dam, the area flooded by the dam's reservoir "contains a rare and discrete floral floodplain habitat which acts as both a conduit and critical habitat for resident and non-resident fauna and avifauna.

[4] After the completion of the dam, the Belize Institute of Environmental Law and Policy (BELPO) sued Fortis, alleging the company failed to monitor water quality in the Macal River and did not implement an adequate emergency warning system in case the dam broke.