Because the industry and population of Kyoto City declined after the Meiji Restoration and the capital was transferred to Tokyo, Kunimichi KITAGAKI, the third governor of Kyoto Prefecture, planned Lake Biwa Canal with irrigation, public water supply, transportation, and generating power for water wheels in mind.
明治維新と東京奠都に伴い京都市は人口が減少し産業も衰退したため、第3代京都府知事の北垣国道が灌漑、上水道、水運、水車の動力を目的とした琵琶湖疏水を計画。