Callville Wash is an intermittent stream, or wash, located in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The wash lies within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and drains south‑southwesterly into Callville Bay, the northeastern arm of Lake Mead on the Colorado River.
Geography
- Location: The wash originates in the foothills of the Virgin Mountains at an elevation of roughly 3 800 feet (1 160 m) and descends toward the lake level of Lake Mead (≈ 1 200 feet / 366 m).
- Course: In periods of rainfall, runoff from the surrounding arid basin travels through the wash, joining the Colorado River system via Callville Bay. In the absence of precipitation, the channel remains dry.
Naming and Historical Context
The feature derives its name from the historic settlement of Callville, a steamboat landing and Mormon outpost established in 1864 on the Colorado River. The settlement was later inundated after the creation of Lake Mead following the completion of Hoover Dam in 1936.
Ecology
Callville Wash traverses desert scrub and riparian habitats typical of the Mojave and Great Basin transition zone. Periodic flow events support temporary vegetation and provide limited water resources for wildlife.
Management
The wash lies within federally managed land overseen by the National Park Service as part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. No permanent infrastructure exists along the channel; it is primarily of interest for hydrological monitoring and recreational hiking.
References
- United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) entry for “Callville Wash”.
- National Park Service, Lake Mead National Recreation Area management documents.
Note: Detailed hydrological data (e.g., average discharge, watershed area) for Callville Wash are not publicly documented in readily accessible encyclopedic sources; therefore, those specifics are omitted.
