[2] The dam and reservoir are part of a strategy to reduce the risk of flood damage for Winnipeg and other communities along the Assiniboine River.

[2] For example, in the 1997 Red River flood, the inflow to the reservoir peaked at 10,000 cubic feet per second (280 m3/s) while the outflow never exceeded 1,700 cu ft/s (48 m3/s).

[3] The reservoir is also used to supplement flows on the Assiniboine when conditions are dry, ensuring water supply for Brandon, Portage la Prairie, irrigators, and some industries.

Outflows are controlled by a gated conduit and a 210-foot (64 m) wide concrete chute spillway.

[2] Fish species include walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, mooneye, burbot, rock bass, brown bullhead, white sucker, shorthead redhorse and common carp.