[1] Along with Dry Falls Dam about 22 mi (35 km) to the southwest, North Dam creates the reservoir Banks Lake within the ancient Grand Coulee riverbed.

The lake serves as the equalizer reservoir of the Columbia Basin Project.

Near the North Dam's left abutment is the entrance to the feeder canal of the project.

The canal serves to either deliver water to the pump-generating plant at Grand Coulee Dam or return water to Banks Lake from the same pumped-storage plant.

Both North and Dry Falls dams have 10 feet (3.0 m) of freeboard for protection against wave action due to high winds.