Small, privately owned hydroelectric projects have existed since the 1890s, but the large flood-control and storage dams that characterize the middle reaches of the river today were not constructed until the 1950s.
Desde a década de 1890 abordáronse pequenos proxectos hidroeléctricos, de propiedade privada, pero as grandes presas para o control das inundacións e o asolagamento que caracterizan o curso medio do río hoxe en día non se construíron ata a década de 1950.