Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway Visitor Centers Closed Temporarily for Employee Training

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks and Dam 15 in Rock Island, Illinois and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, will be closed March 3-4. The closure is needed to facilitate annual training for all visitor center staff. Both facilities will reopen to the public Thursday, March 5, for normal operational hours.

  • Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works announces ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative for the Army’s Civil Works program

    Today, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle announced a major initiative, “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” for the Army’s Civil Works program. “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” will provide greater focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) core Civil Works missions, while minimizing non-core programs, direct funding to priority water resources projects that will provide the greatest benefits to the nation, shorten permitting timelines, and reduce or eliminate extraneous regulations and paperwork that slow USACE’s delivery of Civil Works projects and programs.

  • 42nd Annual Clinton Bald Eagle Watch to be held Jan. 31

    The 42nd Annual Clinton Bald Eagle watch will be held Jan. 31. The event is hosted by 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.

  • USACE Rock Island District Announces Volunteer Opportunities for 2026 Recreation Season

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District is looking for volunteers to serve at its recreation areas for the 2026 season. Opportunities exist in Iowa at Saylorville Lake near Des Moines, Lake Red Rock near Pella, Coralville Lake near Iowa City, and at the Farmdale Reservoir in Peoria, Illinois. Opportunities can also be found in Iowa and Illinois at recreation areas and visitor centers along the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces publication of 2026 nationwide permits

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today the publication of the 2026 nationwide permits in the Federal Register. The 56 reissued and one new nationwide permit in the final action are necessary for work in streams, wetlands and other waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces finalization of nationwide permits

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will reissue 56 existing nationwide permits and issue one new permit for work in wetlands and other waters that are regulated by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. One existing permit will not be reissued.

  • Illinois Waterway Visitor Center to Host “Submarines Down the River” Lecture

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, will host “Submarines Down the River” on January 4 at 1 p.m.

  • Mississippi River Visitor Center to Close for Holidays

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks and Dam 15 in Rock Island, Illinois, will be closed December 24-26 and January 1, for federal holidays. With the exception of these dates, the facility will be open to the public Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

  • Illinois Waterway Visitor Center to Close for Holidays

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois, will be closed December 24-26 and January 1, for federal holidays. Public access to the facility and parking lot will be unavailable during the closures.

  • Road Closure over Red Rock Dam November 20-21

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces a full road closure to Highway T15 across the Red Rock Dam November 20-21. The closure will begin Thursday morning and may continue through Friday. The closure is necessary for the ongoing rehabilitation project on the Red Rock Dam gates.