When built, adoption of the constant arch design for the dam reduced costs by 20% because less concrete was needed to construct the dam.

Three years later in 1998, a consortium to fund and construct the dam was organized.

A request to construct the dam was submitted in 1907 and initial construction began in 1916.

The agreement gave 8000 acres of land for the reservoir and another 100 acres to construct the dam.

The usual approach was to construct a dam to retain surface water, or to drill a series of wells, and store the water in a water tank.