Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • 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.

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

    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.

  • Weather to cause temporary closures at Saylorville Lake

    Due to forecasted weather conditions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will temporarily close the road that crosses over Saylorville Lake Dam starting at 3 p.m. today. The road will be closed at NW 78th Ave. near the Iowa National Guard Armory to the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center entrance. All Saylorville Lake recreation areas have also been closed to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. The road will reopen when conditions improve, and staff are able to safely clear the roadway. For up-to-date information on area closures, follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/SaylorvilleLake, or contact the Saylorville Lake project office at 515-276-4656.

  • USACE seeking public input on proposed updates to Public Law 84-99

    The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating part of the Federal Regulation outlining how USACE implements its emergency authority provided in Public Law 84-99 for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The regulation was last revised in 2003. Since that time, there have been amendments to Public Law 84-99 through multiple Water Resource Development Acts passed by Congress. Additionally, USACE programs have evolved to implement lessons learned from events over the last 20 years. USACE will update the federal regulation to reflect these changes.

  • First in the nation contract awarded for an environmental project under the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, awarded a $324,000 contract today to Togiak Management Services of Anchorage, Alaska, to complete a wing dam modification project in Pool 2 of the Mississippi River downstream of St. Paul, Minnesota.

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

    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.

  • Public comments sought on plan for Lower Pool 13 Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District and its Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program partners are constructing a habitat rehabilitation project in Lower Pool 13 of the Mississippi River near Clinton, Iowa, and are seeking comments on the project plan. A virtual question and answer session will be held Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. for anyone interested in learning more about the project or providing feedback to the team. The draft feasibility report, which includes the project’s tentatively selected plan and an environmental assessment are available for public review at: https://dvidshub.net/r/yl8viq. Details on how to participate in the virtual question and answer session can also be found at the site.

  • Lock and Dam 21 visitor overlook to close temporarily for winter repairs

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the visitor overlook and parking area at Lock and Dam 21 in Quincy, Illinois, will be closed to the public starting Monday, Nov. 14, to facilitate concrete repairs around the lock. Construction activities are estimated to conclude mid-March 2023. The boat ramp downstream of Lock 21 will remain available for public use during this time. For more information, contact the Muscatine Ranger Station at 563-263-7913 or email mvrodmn16@usace.army.mil.

  • Illinois Waterway Visitor Center, surrounding areas closed for roadway resurfacing

    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.