[4] Outflows from the dam are regulated by a gated spillway with 17 bays, with a maximum release capacity of 2,100 cubic feet per second (59 m3/s).

He created the Lake Tahoe and San Francisco Water Works Company in 1865 in order to see his plan come to life, however Von Schmidt was shut down by California Legislature in 1870.

However, this did not discourage Von Schmidt, who, in the following year, continued to push for the ability to divert water to San Francisco.

[5] Construction for the Newlands Project began in 1903[10] and they quickly made progress on building the Derby Dam and the Truckee Canal.

In 1909, the Newlands Project set out to obtain the rights to the Tahoe Dam, which at that point had been owned by Truckee River General Electric Company.

Rights to control Tahoe Dam and some 14 acres surrounding the outlet was purchased for a total of $139,500 by the federal government.

In total, the Newlands Project led to the creation of many irrigation systems within Nevada and California including: As the USBR stated intent to repair the Tahoe Dam in 1987 in order to enhance its seismic resistance, the Paiute Tribe took advantage of this occasion to file a lawsuit against the federal government.

However, with irrigation interference from the U.S. Government, Pyramid Lake received less water than it needed for its ecosystem to thrive.