Rock Island District News Releases

Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway Visitor Centers Closed Temporarily for Employee Training

Press Operations — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:05:43 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks and Dam 15 in Rock Island, Illinois and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, will be closed March 3-4. The closure is needed to facilitate annual training for all visitor center staff. Both facilities will reopen to the public Thursday, March 5, for normal operational hours.

USACE Rock Island District Announces Volunteer Opportunities for 2026 Recreation Season

Press Operations — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:18:20 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District is looking for volunteers to serve at its recreation areas for the 2026 season. Opportunities exist in Iowa at Saylorville Lake near Des Moines, Lake Red Rock near Pella, Coralville Lake near Iowa City, and at the Farmdale Reservoir in Peoria, Illinois. Opportunities can also be found in Iowa and Illinois at recreation areas and visitor centers along the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway.

Illinois Waterway Visitor Center to Host “Submarines Down the River” Lecture

Press Operations — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:10:38 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, will host “Submarines Down the River” on January 4 at 1 p.m.

Illinois Waterway Visitor Center to Close for Holidays

Press Operations — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, will be closed December 24-26 and January 1, for federal holidays. Public access to the facility and parking lot will be unavailable during the closures.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seeks Public Input for Mississippi & Illinois River Habitat Restoration

Press Operations — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:51:45 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in collaboration with state and federal partners, announces the launch of the Mississippi & Illinois River Experience Tool, a new initiative to gather public input to inform future restoration efforts under the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP).

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Encourages Safe Boating Practices on Illinois Waterway

Press Operations — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 18:20:06 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, issues a reminder to all recreational boaters regarding the restricted use of mooring cells along the Illinois Waterway. These large, circular concrete structures, located near each lock and dam, are essential for commercial navigation and are not intended for recreational activities.

Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Army Corps of Engineers’ Birthday and Juneteenth Celebration

Press Operations — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,600 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of the USACE birthday, June 16, and Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Nationwide Recreation Operational Status Website Launched

Press Operations — Thu, 22 May 2025 18:32:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched its Recreation Operational Status website to keep the public informed about the operational status of USACE recreation areas nationwide.

Temporary Art Exhibit on Display at Illinois Waterway Visitor Center

Press Operations — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:49:35 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is hosting a temporary art exhibit at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center located at 950 N. 27th Road in Ottawa, Illinois, now through June 1. The exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to the public. Reversing Course: The Illinois River in 1900 and Today compares black-and-white photos from 1894 to 1928 with color photographs created by Watershed Cairns® artists Libby Reuter and Joshua Rowan from 2018 to 2022. Historic and contemporary maps pinpoint the locations of the photos at eleven sites along the Illinois River. Labels placed between the paired images help to highlight the economic and ecological changes along the river over the past 120 years.

Starved Rock Eagle Watch Weekend Scheduled for Jan. 25-26

Press Operations — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:41:54 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County Tourism, Heritage Corridor Destinations, Starved Rock Lodge and Village of North Utica are hosting Eagle Watch Weekend, Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26.

USACE Rock Island District awards first construction contract for Brandon Road Interbasin Project

Press Operations — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:08:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, awarded the first construction contract for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project on November 27. The $15.5 million contract was awarded to Miami Marine Services for site preparation and riverbed rock removal for the engineered channel. Miami Marine will partner with Michels Construction, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for completion of this contract.

Public Input Sought on a DRAFT Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the LaGrange Lock and Dam 1200’ Lock Project

Press Operations — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:32:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, completed a DRAFT Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the LaGrange Lock and Dam 1,200-foot Lock project and is now seeking public review. The District is interested in public review and comments regarding the project analysis and outcomes.

FREE boating safety courses to be offered at Illinois Waterway Visitor Center

Press Operations — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is offering free boating safety education classes at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center located at 950 N. 27th Rd. in Ottawa, Illinois, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, and August 17. Each class runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to anyone 11 years of age or older. Completion of only one course is necessary for certification.

USACE to host public information session for new 1,200-foot lock chamber at LaGrange Lock and Dam

Press Operations — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:07:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is hosting a public information session, July 11, from 6-8 p.m. to provide review of the preliminary design plan for a new 1,200-foot lock chamber being designed for the LaGrange Lock and Dam on the Illinois Waterway near Beardstown, Illinois.

Illinois Waterway Visitor Center closed to public May 22-25

Press Operations — Fri, 19 May 2023 14:28:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is temporarily closing the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center May 22-25.

Three Illinois Waterway locks to close temporarily June 1

Press Operations — Thu, 18 May 2023 17:43:49 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is temporarily closing the Brandon Road, Dresden Island and Marseilles locks on the Illinois Waterway, June 1, to facilitate needed repairs and maintenance. The closures are scheduled to last through Sept. 30 and are being conducted simultaneously to limit impacts to navigation.

FREE boating safety courses to be offered at Illinois Waterway Visitor Center

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 20:49:03 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will offer free boating safety education classes at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, and August 19. Each class will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to anyone 11 years of age or older. Completion of only one course is needed for certification.

Starved Rock area to host Eagle Watch Weekend, Jan. 28-29

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 19:34:16 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is hosting an eagle watch event Jan. 28-29. The event is held in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Raptor Center, Starved Rock Foundation, Starved Rock Audubon and Starved Rock Lodge. Activities will be held at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam as well as the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center and Starved Rock Lodge.

New lifetime pass available for Military Veterans and Gold Star Families to access public lands

Press Operations — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:58:00 GMT

The Biden-Harris administration announced that starting on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families can obtain a free lifetime pass to thousands of federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is participating in the new pass program and will have passes available at the Mississippi River Visitor Center in Rock Island, Illinois, the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center in Ottawa, Illinois, and the project offices at Saylorville Lake, Coralville Lake and Lake Red Rock in Iowa.

Illinois Waterway Visitor Center, surrounding areas closed for roadway resurfacing

Press Operations — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 17:25:57 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center and public areas near Starved Rock Lock and Dam will be closed Monday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 4, for parking lot resurfacing. The visitor center, access roads, parking lots and the observation and picnic areas will reopen to the public on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Illinois Waterway Visitor Center is located at 950 N 27th Rd, Ottawa, IL 61350. For more information, please contact the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at 815-667-4054.