Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • Mississippi River Visitor Center Operating Days Change

    Starting May 20, the Mississippi River Visitor Center operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, at Locks and Dam 15 on the Rock Island Arsenal will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday each week.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encourages use of the Regulatory Request System for an improved permitting experience

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to encourage the public to use the Regulatory Request System (RRS) for an improved permitting experience. RRS, launched Jan. 31, 2024, provides a straightforward, transparent process for the timely submittal and review of permit requests.

  • Corps to Host Sabula Lakes Project Open House, May 20

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is hosting an open house May 20 to provide an update on the ecosystem restoration project planned for the Sabula Lakes area of the Mississippi River. The event will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League located at 60190 US-52 in Sabula, Iowa.

  • Army Corps of Engineers reminds visitors to practice water safety

    As millions of Americans plan visits to our nation’s lakes and rivers for the 2025 recreation season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reminds visitors of the importance of practicing safe, sensible and thoughtful activities in, on and around open water. 

  • Temporary Closure of Neal Smith Trail at Saylorville Lake

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will close a portion of the Neal Smith Trail at Saylorville Lake beginning April 17 for trail reconstruction work. The affected section of trail extends from Red Feather Prairie Access North to the Cherry Glen Recreation Area. Work is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete and includes time for the new concrete to properly cure. For public safety, trail users are reminded to stay out of marked construction zones and to observe all posted signage and fencing throughout the project duration. For further questions, contact the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656.

  • Power Failure Impacts Cherry Glen Picnic Area

    Due to a power failure at the Cherry Glen Picnic Area at Saylorville Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is temporarily modifying operations within the park. Repairs are pending, but a completion date is not yet known.

  • FREE boating safety courses to be offered at Mississippi River Project Office

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is offering free boating safety education classes at the Mississippi River Project Office near Locks and Dam 14 in Pleasant Valley, Iowa. These courses are designed to equip boaters of all experience levels with essential safety knowledge before heading out on the water. Classes will be offered April 5, 12, 19, and 26, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are open to anyone 11 or older. While no on-the-water training is provided, the classroom-based instruction covers key boating safety principles. Boaters 12 and older who successfully complete the course and pass the final exam will receive an Illinois Department of Natural Resources Boat Safety Certification, which is recognized in both Illinois and Iowa.

  • Temporary Art Exhibit on Display at Illinois Waterway Visitor Center

    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.

  • 41st Annual Clinton Bald Eagle Watch scheduled for Feb. 8

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Clinton Community College, Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge are hosting the 41st Annual Clinton Bald Eagle Watch Saturday, February 8.

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

    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.