Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • Opening of Lake Red Rock recreation areas further delayed

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces that due to a delay in manufacture and delivery of pipe for waterline upgrades several recreation areas at Lake Red Rock will not be opening June 1 as previously announced. Howell Station and North Overlook campgrounds and the North Overlook picnic area will now remain closed through July 31. Fifield picnic area will remain closed throughout the 2023 recreation season. 

  • Portion of Neal Smith Trail at Saylorville Lake to close for construction work

    Due to water and sewer construction work at the Cherry Glen Recreation Area, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is closing a portion of the Neal Smith Trail at Saylorville Lake indefinitely starting March 20.

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

    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.

  • Upgrades at Thomson Causeway Recreation Area to cause temporary closures

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces it will be upgrading the water infrastructure at the Thomson Causeway Recreation Area in Thomson, Illinois, starting March 9. During installation of new, individual water hookups at sites 1-78 and 99-131, the Potter’s North, Potter’s South, Hickory Point loops and the day use areas of the park will be closed to all vehicle, bike and pedestrian traffic.

  • Corps of Engineers to offer FREE boating safety courses

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will be offering free boating safety education classes at the Mississippi River Project Office near Locks and Dam 14 in Pleasant Valley, Iowa, during the month of April. Classes, which are open to anyone 12 years of age or older, will be offered April 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Completion of only one of these courses is needed for certification.

  • Lower water levels to be maintained at Saylorville Lake for sedimentation survey

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is scheduled to hold Saylorville lake levels below the normal conservation pool while a sedimentation survey is conducted. While the lake is held at or below an elevation of 834 feet, data collection will take place, likely during the last week of March or first week of April, depending on weather and visibility for the aircraft and instrumentation.

  • Roadway over Red Rock Dam to experience partial and full closures to traffic beginning February 27

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces temporary single-lane road closures to Highway T15 across the Red Rock Dam beginning February 27. Closures will only be in effect Monday through Friday each week. The road will be fully open to traffic on the weekends during this period. Partial closures are expected to last five weeks and are necessary for preventive maintenance to the Red Rock Dam.  

  • Accelerated funding keeps Brandon Road Interbasin Project moving forward

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, received $1.5 million from the states of

  • Public Tours of dewatered Lock 12 being offered Feb. 15

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has de-watered Lock 12 on the Mississippi River in Bellevue, Iowa, for maintenance and is hosting small-group tours for the public Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will be given the chance to travel to the bottom of the chamber to see critical repairs of the aging inland waterway navigation infrastructure.

  • USACE warns of dangerous ice conditions at Coralville Lake

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is warning the public to stay off the ice at Coralville Lake. Recent extreme cold has added ice to the surface of the water while decreasing inflows have caused unstable conditions.