Prompton Dam forms part of the Lackawaxen River Flood Control Project, constructed between 1958 and 1960 to protect the residents of this valley. Its purpose is to automatically impound and release stream flow in excess of downstream capacity, reducing flood stages downstream to protect property and lives in the Lackawaxen River Basin. Burkholder and Burkholder of Winchester, Virginia, served as general contractors, and the dam was completed in November 1960.