The dam's main purpose is for the storage of water used in the generation of hydro-power .

It was completed in 1955 and is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northwest of Perisher Valley, in the Kosciuszko National Park.

The uncontrolled spillway is capable of discharging reservoir overflow at rates up to 1,416 cubic metres per second (50,000 cu ft/s).

At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 1,604 megalitres (56.6×10^6 cu ft) of water with a surface area of 19.4 hectares (48 acres) The catchment area is 91 square kilometres (35 sq mi), including the Guthega river, Pounds creek, Farm creek and the upper reaches of the Snowy River.

Water flows through the turbines at the rate of 28.3 cubic metres per second (1,000 cu ft/s).