Davis Dam, Laughlin, NV
Davis Dam is a Bureau of Reclamation water project located on the Lower Colorado River near Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona. Reclamation made the decision to install wayside panels at the dam site in part because tours of interior of the dam are no longer permitted due to security concerns in the post-9/11 world.
As part of the Lower Colorado River Project, the primary purpose of Davis Dam is to regulate the flow of the river below Hoover Dam to ensure adequate delivery of water to Mexico to meet treaty obligations. The Davis Powerplant generates 240,000 kilowatts of electricity as well, and the reservoir formed by the dam (Lake Mohave) provides significant water-based recreation opportunities. EDA developed nine interpretive panels for Davis Dam. Intepretive themes focus primarily on helping visitors understand the purpose and function of the dam, as well as management of the Lower Colorado River’s water resources and the history of the dam’s construction.