[4] Built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it is used for flood control, recreation, and water supply.

[5] The effects of the Great Flood of 1951 further demonstrated the need for the project, and the Tulsa District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction in June 1960.

The reservoir was completed at a total cost of $11.5 million and became operational for flood control on October 9, 1964.

[7] U.S. Route 56 runs generally east-west roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of the reservoir.

[9] The reservoir's namesake, the city of Council Grove, lies approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the dam.

In terms of capacity, the Corps of Engineers vertically divides the reservoir into a set of pools based on volume and water level, and the reservoir is considered full when filled to the capacity of its conservation pool.

At the top of the flood control pool, these outlet works have a flow capacity of 11,400 cubic feet per second (320 m3/s).

[10] Game animals living on land around the reservoir include doves, quail, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, and white-tailed deer.