In 1921, the Federal Power Commission granted a license to the Wisconsin and Minnesota Power and Light Company for construction of a dam on the Chippewa River. Completed in 1923, the dam provided hydroelectric power and flood control to the area and created a 15,300 acre reservoir with 233 miles of shoreline. Known as the Chippewa Flowage, this watery area with about two hundred islands became one of Wisconsin's largest inland lakes. It was the homeland of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of the Chippewa Indians, who never approved of the Flowage's creation and lost their Post village, burial grounds, and wild rice beds to the new lake. The power company relocated the people to a new village named New Post along the shores of the lake. Today, the area attracts many nature lovers and thousands of anglers to its abundant fishing waters.