Rock Island District News Releases

North Overlook Campground at Lake Red Rock to close for portion of 2021 season for construction

Press Operations — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:06:00 GMT

In order to inform those who may be planning 2021 camping trips, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District announces that it will close the North Overlook Campground at Lake Red Rock from May 16-August 31, 2021.

North Overlook Picnic Shelter Reservable for 2021 Recreation Season

Press Operations — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 20:05:00 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Iowa -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District has reopened the North Overlook Picnic Shelter for reservations for the 2021 recreation season. The shelter was intermittently closed to the public since Fall 2014 due to construction of the new Red Rock Hydropower Project. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance by visiting Recreation One Stop online at www.recreation.gov or by calling toll free at 1-877-444-6777. The shelter will remain available only on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of the 2020 season. For more information, please contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake Red Rock office at (641) 828-7522.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to resume collection of day use recreation fees October 1

Press Operations — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:43:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will resume the collection of fees at its day use recreation areas beginning October 1. Fee collections were suspended earlier this year when recreation areas were closed due to COVID-19 precautions.

North Tailwater Recreation Area to reopen below Lake Red Rock Dam

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 14:36:16 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District will reopen for public use the North Tailwater Recreation Area below Lake Red Rock Dam Oct. 1. The area has been closed since Fall 2014 due to construction of the new Red Rock Hydropower Project.

Volksweg Trail Extension Now Open to Cordova Park

Press Operations — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 18:43:00 GMT

The newest section of the Volksweg Trail at Lake Red Rock is now complete and open to the public. This extension adds an additional 2.5 miles of trail from the Roberts Creek trailhead west to Cordova County Park. The full length of the Volksweg is now over 17 miles.

Swimming Not Recommended at Lake Red Rock Beaches

Press Operations — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 16:04:00 GMT

Due to elevated bacteria levels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District does not recommend swimming at the North Overlook and Whitebreast beaches at Lake Red Rock.

Army Corps of Engineers reports an increase in adult drowning at its lake and river projects this summer

Press Operations — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 19:54:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that more than 30 people lost their lives to drowning in June at lake and river projects the agency manages. The June statistics represent a 47 percent increase in drownings over the same time period last year. USACE also reported that nearly all the drowning victims were adult males between the ages of 18 and 85 and were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the drowning.

Lake Red Rock Beaches Now Open

Press Operations — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:33:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District has opened North Overlook Beach and Whitebreast Beach at Lake Red Rock.

Lake Red Rock Picnic Shelters Open to First-Come, First Served

Press Operations — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 20:39:31 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District will open picnic shelters at Lake Red Rock on a first-come, first-served basis beginning June 22. Reservations will not be accepted and users are asked to select shelters based on their current occupancy and availability.

Sustainable Rivers Program established at Des Moines River Reservoirs

Press Operations — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 17:13:41 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District and The Nature Conservancy have partnered to establish a Sustainable Rivers Program at Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock on the Des Moines River. The emphasis of the program is to benefit aquatic dependent species while continuing to provide the same level of flood risk management to river communities.

Campgrounds to reopen June 1 at Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock

Press Operations — Thu, 28 May 2020 20:14:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District announces campgrounds at Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock will reopen June 1. Online reservations through www.recreation.gov are required for all sites and same day reservations are now permitted.

Corps of Engineers Suspends Collection of Day Use Fees, Campground Closures Continue until June 1

Press Operations — Thu, 07 May 2020 18:27:00 GMT

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District has suspended the collection of day use fees until Oct. 1. These suspended fees apply to all open recreation areas within the District. This includes recreation areas at Saylorville Lake, Lake Red Rock, Coralville Lake and those located along the Mississippi River between Potosi, Wisconsin and Saverton, Missouri.

Corps of Engineers to Reopen Day Use Areas at Lake Red Rock

Press Operations — Fri, 01 May 2020 21:40:00 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District announces a partial reopening of several day use areas at Lake Red Rock.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Extends Closures Due to COVID-19

Press Operations — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 22:28:02 GMT

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois – Due to the ongoing concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District has extended its recreation area closures through May 31.

Save Our Streams Workshop Postponed

Press Operations — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 14:15:00 GMT

(Knoxville, Iowa) – The Save Our Streams (SOS) Workshop scheduled for Saturday, April 4th has been postponed until further notice. For more information, please contact SOS Coordinator Zach Moss: zmoss@iwla.org or 515-249-7213.

Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock Operating Under Newly Updated Water Control Plans

Press Operations — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 18:26:37 GMT

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District has updated the Des Moines River Basin Master Regulation Manual and, as a result, now operates Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock under newly updated Water Control Plans.

Volksweg Trail Expansion Project

Press Operations — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 19:18:00 GMT

The US Army Corps of Engineers will be extending the Volksweg Trail 2.6 miles from the trailhead at Robert’s Creek west to Cordova Park. A new trailhead with parking lot is also planned at Cordova. The Volksweg Trail was started in the early 1990's as part of the Des Moines Recreational River and Greenbelt Project. Currently, it is a fourteen mile paved path that winds along the north side of Lake Red Rock, below the Red Rock Dam, and into the City of Pella. The Corps of Engineers is excited to extend this very popular trail to provide additional recreational opportunities for our visitors and local communities! Work on the extension project is anticipated to be completed sometime during Summer 2019.

Lake Red Rock Volunteers Receive National Award

Press Operations — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 18:04:00 GMT

Chester and Phyllis Briggs, Newton residents and long-time Lake Red Rock volunteers, are two of this year's national recipients of the Enduring Service Volunteer Award. They will receive the award at 10:00 am on Thursday, September 28 at the Bass Pro Shops in Altoona, Iowa. The Corps Foundation established the award in January 2016 to honor long term service and outstanding accomplishments by individuals and families of volunteers at US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) lakes and waterways.

REMINDER: Fireworks prohibited on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property

Press Operations — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:02:42 GMT

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, reminds everyone that possession of explosives or explosive devices of any kind, including fireworks and other pyrotechnics, on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property is prohibited. This prohibition applies to all recreation areas at Saylorville Lake, Lake Red Rock and Coralville Lake as well as Corps of Engineers locations along the Illinois Waterway and Mississippi River.

Intermittent Phone Issues

Press Operations — Wed, 24 May 2017 20:48:00 GMT

The Corps office and Rock Visitor Center's main phone line is experiencing intermittent phone issues. If you have trouble reaching the Corps at the main office number (641) 828-7522, please try calling via the Pella number (641-628-8690) or the secondary Knoxville line (641- 828-7523). We apologize for any inconvenience.