The dam was constructed by Utah-Brown & Root Sudamericana on behalf of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority, and is now managed by Snowy Hydro Limited. The concrete gravity dam of is high with a crest length of . At 100% capacity, the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Tantangara Reservoir is and the catchment area is . The spillway across the Murrumbidgee River is capable of discharging .