[1] The dam and reservoir impound the upper South Fork American River for hydroelectric power, and are named for Slab Creek, a nearby tributary.
The concrete arch dam was constructed in 1967 (58 years ago) (1967) as part of the Upper American River Project by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).
[3] Recreation on and around the reservoir includes fishing, camping, and rafting.
[4] An additional project called the Iowa Hill Pumped-Storage Project was planned in 2001, which would have taken water from the Slab Creek reservoir during off-peak times, to be released for electricity generation at times of high demand.
In February 2016 the project was cancelled, on the grounds that by the time it was completed, that type of storage would not be needed.