In 1994, when it was still under construction, regarding dams and dam lakes as essential for regional development, the Construction Ministry promoted the policy of 'Dams Friendly and Open to the Regions' in the aim of making dams contribute to regional economic development by actively opening them to the public and by promoting them as tourist attractions.
折から建設中の1994年（平成6年）、建設省はダム・ダム湖を地域活性化の要とし、観光地としての価値をダムに持たせ地域振興に寄与する事を目的にダムの積極的な一般開放を目指して「地域に開かれたダム」施策を実施した。