As a result the Dahan River cut a canyon through the alluvial sediments for more than 30 kilometres (19 mi) to reach the new lower elevation.

Due to the lack of a natural water source for the Taoyuan plateau, thousands of artificial ponds were constructed to capture summer rainfall for irrigation, making the area one of Taiwan's most productive agricultural regions.

The dam has had problems with silt build-up since its construction, due to the high rate of erosion caused by typhoon storms and earthquakes in the upper Dahan River drainage.

The Taiwanese government has proposed the construction of a mega-dam on the Takekan Creek known as Gaotai Dam (高台壩) to trap silt and provide additional water storage.

This plan has been criticized due to its potential environmental damage, and its limited useful life, because the new reservoir would also eventually fill with silt.