The Bernina railway line runs alongside the western side of the lake, with stations at Le Prese and Miralago.

Between 1904 and 1907 the lake was converted into a reservoir as part of a series of hydro-electric power plants in the Val di Poschiavo that are fed from the Lago Bianco.

In operation the level of water can vary by up to 7 m (23 ft), giving a usable storage capacity of 15.1 million cubic metres (12,200 acre⋅ft).

This would involve creating a 18.1 kilometres (11.2 mi) long tunnel high along the western side of the Val di Poschiavo from Lago Bianco, followed by 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) long shaft to an underground power plant on the banks of the Lago di Poschiavo.

The proposals have received formal consent from the cantonal authorities, but as of 2016[update] are not believed to be financially viable.