Congress authorized the construction of Dale Hollow Dam in 1938 to reduce flood damages in the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi River Valleys. Designed by the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers and built by private contractors, construction of the dam began in March 1942 and was completed in October 1943. The dam, 200 feet high and 1,717 feet long, impounds 61 miles of the Obey River, creating 620 miles of shoreline with 27,700 acres of water and 24,842 acres of land for recreation. Due to World War II, construction of Dale Hollow Powerhouse was suspended in October 1943 and resumed in July 1946. The first of three identical Francis turbine generator units began generating electricity in December 1948, unit two was in service by January 1949, and the final unit went online in November 1953. Water surges 140 feet from reservoir intakes to the turbine and generator units, which collectively have the capacity to generate a maximum 54,000 kilowatts of electricity, sufficient to power a city of 45,000 people.