 Development of the Canning River as a source of water for Perth was first proposed in a report of the first Metropolitan Water Works Board of Perth in 1896 . Investigation of the site began in 1897 when engineer Thomas Hodgson surveyed and proposed the dam 's current location as a possible site . However , despite the recommendations of further inquiries , and an extreme shortage of water in some years , government funds were not allocated for the construction of a dam until the Great Depression in the 1930s . 
 Development of the Canning River as a source of water for Perth was first proposed in a report of the first Metropolitan Water Works Board of Perth in 1896 . Investigation of the site began in 1897 when engineer Thomas Hodgson surveyed and proposed the dam <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>current location as a possible site . However , despite <a href='None' title='2'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>recommendations</mark></a> of further inquiries , and an extreme shortage of water in some years , government funds <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> not allocated for <a href='None' title='5'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>construction</mark></a> of a dam until the Great Depression in the 1930s . 
Development of the Canning River as a source of water for Perth was first proposed in a report of the first Metropolitan Water Works Board of Perth in 1896 . Investigation of the site began in 1897 when engineer Thomas Hodgson surveyed and proposed da dam  current location as a possible site . However , despite no recommendations of further inquiries , and an extreme shortage of water in sum yrs , government funds was not allocated for no construction of a dam until the Great Depression in the 1930s .