The reservoir began to fill in 1960, the power station was operational in 1961 and the dam complete in 1962.

Its reservoir, Lac de Roselend, can store 187,000,000 m3 (151,603 acre⋅ft) of water and has a surface area of 3.2 km2 (1 sq mi).

Directly over the river bed is the dam's concrete arch with a 215 m (705 ft) radius.

[4][5] Water from the dam is transferred west via a 13 km (8 mi) long penstock to the underground power station in La Bâthie.

The difference in elevation between the power station and reservoir affords a hydraulic head (drop) of 1,250 m (4,101 ft).