Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • 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.

  • USACE Introduces Public Notice Module to Regulatory Request System

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced the launch of the new public notice module on its Regulatory Request System (RRS), an innovative online application portal designed to enhance transparency and improve public engagement.

  • USACE Rock Island District awards first construction contract for Brandon Road Interbasin Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, awarded the first construction contract for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project on November 27. The $15.5 million contract was awarded to Miami Marine Services for site preparation and riverbed rock removal for the engineered channel. Miami Marine will partner with Michels Construction, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for completion of this contract.

  • Public Input Sought on a DRAFT Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the LaGrange Lock and Dam 1200’ Lock Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, completed a DRAFT Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the LaGrange Lock and Dam 1,200-foot Lock project and is now seeking public review. The District is interested in public review and comments regarding the project analysis and outcomes.

  • Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Veterans Day

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,850 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of Veterans Day, November 11.