The reservoir was created by the damming of the east and west sides of a much smaller Cypress Lake in the late 1930s.

There is a provincial recreation site on the southern shore and a wildlife refuge on Heglund Island in the lake.

During the dry months, water could be released from Adams Lake to help prevent Battle Creek from dying up, which allowed for irrigation throughout the growing season.

With plans originally conceived in 1908, Cypress Lake was turned into a reservoir in the late 1930s.

[12][13] Fish commonly found in Cypress Lake include walleye and northern pike.