| Davis Dam | |
| Name Official: | Davis Dam |
| Dam Crosses: | Colorado River |
| Res Name: | Lake Mohave |
| Location: | Clark County, Nevada / Mohave County, Arizona, USA |
| Operator: | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Opening: | 1951 |
| Plant Turbines: | 5 Francis turbines |
| Plant Capacity: | 251 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 1148 GWh |
| Coordinates: | 35.1988°N -114.5695°W |
Davis Dam is a dam on the Colorado River about downstream from Hoover Dam.[1] It stretches across the border between Arizona and Nevada. Originally called Bullhead Dam, Davis Dam was renamed after Arthur Powell Davis, who was the director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1914 to 1923. The United States Bureau of Reclamation owns and operates the dam, which was completed in 1951.[2]
Davis Dam impounds the Colorado River and forms Lake Mohave.
The dam's purpose is to re-regulate releases from Hoover Dam upstream, and facilitate the delivery of Colorado River water to Mexico.[1] Bullhead City, Arizona, and Laughlin, Nevada, are located just below the dam along the river. Davis Camp is also nearby, operated as a park by Mohave County. Bullhead City was originally a construction town for workers building the dam.
A road is located on the crest of the earth fill portion of the dam and a Forebay Bridge spans the Forebay. It was formerly part of Arizona State Route 68 to Nevada. In April 2004, the roadway was shut down to vehicle traffic. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic are permitted. The old roadway is now an extension of the Heritage Trail system. Barriers have been placed on the former road at each end of the earthen dam. The facility is heavily patrolled by security forces who strictly enforce parking regulations.