Its Red Bluff Reservoir was formed in 1936 by the dam construction, organized by the Red Bluff Water Control District to provide water for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

[1] A water user's association was formed to promote the dam in 1916, and surveying began in 1921.

In 1924 the states of Texas and New Mexico agreed to allow construction, and in 1926 President Calvin Coolidge approved the plan.

[3] The spillway is concrete ogee controlled by 12 tainter gates, each 25 by 15 feet (7.6 by 4.6 m).

The dam includes two hydroelectric plants with a combined capacity of 2,300 kilowatts.