BULLHEAD CITY — On Saturday, September 27, the Davis Dam opened to the public for the first time since 9/11 in honor of Public Lands Day. The event featured groups of people that were taken on guided tours along the dam and inside the power plant.
Tour attendees walking along crest near the spillway. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation.
Volunteers checking in a tour attendee. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation.
The effort to open the dam began in April when the Mohave County Board of Supervisors voted to work with Clark County and the Bureau of Reclamation (BLM) to open the dam on this day. Supervisor Rich Lettman stressed the importance of the dam’s history at a Bullhead City Council meeting earlier this year, saying, “Unless you’re Native American or you grew up around Needles, the reason we’re all here is Davis Dam being built.”
The Davis Dam is not funded by the government and is self-funded by its 37 customers, which include municipalities, irrigation districts, state facilities, and local tribes. The facility currently employs 21 full time employees (FTE), as well as two administrators and one engineering tech. The dam has the capacity to produce 250 Megawatts of energy through its five generators.
The top of the inlet structure, which contains each of the dam’s five generators. The round covers can be removed for maintenance. Photo by Alan Hayman.
The spillway in the background, which holds the water in the forebay. The round structures on the right allow water into the penstocks that lead to the inlet structure. Photo by Alan Hayman.
Repairs made over the years to the walls inside the dam as it leaks. Photo by Alan Hayman.
The Davis Dam is an earth-fill dam built in 1952, with a concrete spillway that is 1,600 feet in length and 200 feet high. The spillway is only opened ever 5–7 years for maintenance, or for emergencies. The last time the spillway was opened was in 2022.
Most of the water held in the 140-foot-deep forebay passes through 22-foot-wide penstocks down to the power station.
Members of the guided tour visited the crest of the spillways, the generator gallery, the turbine gallery, and the tailrace. Water does not flow all the time, though, because wind and solar generate more energy during certain parts of the day.
“We are excited to celebrate this momentous occasion with our community. This partnership with Clark County and Mohave County in celebration of Public Lands Day and America250 allows us to honor our shared history and inspire future generations,” said BLM Acting Regional Director Genevieve Johnson.
Tour attendees in the turbine room. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation.
Connie Castle, Department of Interior Colorado Basin Office of Communications, speaking with tour attendees. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation.
Tour guide and Davis Dam manager Steven Russ, speaking with attendee. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation.
South view from Davis Dam, with Laughlin in the distance. Photo by Alan Hayman.
