Rock Island District / Media / News Releases

  • 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.

  • Lock and Dam 13 boat ramp closed for maintenance

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the public boat ramp located at Lock and Dam 13 north of Fulton, Illinois, will be closed for maintenance starting Monday, Oct. 31. The closure is anticipated to last until Monday, Nov. 7. Boat ramps at Cattail Slough and Big Slough will remain open for access to the Mississippi River during this time. For more information, please contact the Mississippi River Project’s Thomson Ranger Station at 815-259-3628 or email mvrodmn13@usace.army.mil.

  • Opening of five Lake Red Rock recreation areas to be delayed in 2023 for infrastructure upgrades

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces delayed openings of the Howell Station, North Overlook and Whitebreast campgrounds and the Fifield and North Overlook recreation areas at Lake Red Rock. Those sites will delay opening until June 1 for the 2023 recreation season.

  • New Nahant Marsh master plan to be featured at public open house events

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, and Nahant Marsh Education Center will host two public open house events, Oct. 19, from 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. to showcase the center’s updated master plan, provide opportunities for engagement and gather feedback from the community.

  • Three Saylorville Lake recreation areas to be closed in 2023 for upgrades

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the Prairie Flower and Cherry Glen campgrounds and the Cherry Glen picnic area at Saylorville Lake will be closed throughout the 2023 recreation season. Closures of these areas are needed to facilitate upgrades and repairs to water and sewer line systems.

  • Public Input Sought on Quincy Bay Habitat Restoration Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program partners are in the early stages of planning for a habitat rehabilitation project and are seeking public input through Sept. 16

  • Corps seeks public input on revised Coralville Lake Reservoir Master Plan

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District is finalizing the Master Plan for Coralville Lake Reservoir and is seeking public input. A digital version of the plan and a video outlining changes are available for review at: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Coralville-Lake/.

  • Rising COVID levels return masks to Illinois Waterway Visitor Center

    Due to the COVID-19 Community Level being classified as high in LaSalle county, Illinois, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has reinstated mandatory mask wearing inside the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at Starved Rock Lock and Dam in Ottawa, Illinois. Outside viewing areas remain open with no mask requirement.

  • Shoreline repairs and decades of debris to be removed at Saylorville Dam

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will be performing daily flow reductions at Saylorville Lake Dam starting the week of July 18 to facilitate the removal of more than 40 years of accumulated debris from the control tower intake.

  • Historic building to be removed from Illinois Waterway Project Office site

    In early August, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will dispose of a building identified as a contributing element to the Illinois Waterway Project Office, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, located at 257 Grant Street in Peoria, Illinois, is no longer structurally sound and repairs are not feasible. Demolition and disposal of the building has been coordinated with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.