It was constructed to store water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The power station has an installed capacity of 87.5 MW.[3] It is 106 m (348 ft) tall and forms a reservoir with a capacity of 1.82 km3 (1,475,498 acre⋅ft). Its structure contains 26 monoliths.[4]
The Tarik Dam is located 35 km (22 mi) downstream and diverts releases from the Sefidrud Dam for irrigation.
The extremely destructive 1990 Manjil–Rudbar earthquake occurred near the dam and caused portions of its concrete to crack. Repairs and mitigation efforts were undertaken in 1991.[5][6]