Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • 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.

  • 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.