St. Louis District News Releases

Carlyle Lake Facilities Opening Soon

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:07:00 GMT

Spring has arrived, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facilities at Carlyle Lake will soon open for the 2026 recreation season. This includes the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, campgrounds, and fish cleaning stations, all of which enrich the visitor experience and offer excellent recreational opportunities on public lands.

Volunteers Needed for Fish Habitat Improvement Projects at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:20:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Carlyle Lake Education Habitat and Preservation (CLEHP) group and community volunteers, will host two volunteer workdays in March to improve fish habitat and enhance fisheries at Carlyle Lake.

St. Louis District announces commercial concession opportunity at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:15:27 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, is pleased to announce an exciting commercial concession opportunity at Carlyle Lake, Illinois’ largest man-made lake. The Corps of Engineers is seeking qualified applicants to develop and operate facilities and services in the Dam East Recreation Area aimed at enhancing visitor experiences while supporting local economic growth. The selected concessionaire will be authorized to operate within an approximately 3.44-acre lease area at 13551 Dam East Access Road, Carlyle, Ill., 62231. An approximately 40-by-80-foot building is available at the site, along with water, electric, communication and data utility services.

Eagle Watch at Case-Halstead Library

Press Operations — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:30:00 GMT

Eagle Watch, a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Carlyle Lake Project and Case-Halstead Public Library, will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The World Bird Sanctuary will present two "All About Eagles" programs, one at 9:30 a.m. and another at 10:30 a.m., featuring a live bald eagle and offering a closer look at the fascinating nature of this iconic species.

Boundary Maintenance Work at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake will be performing boundary maintenance work from December 15, 2025, through January 9, 2026, on multiple sections of the boundary line at Carlyle Lake, specifically the area from Coles Creek Recreation Area to Boulder Recreation Area.

Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Army Corps of Engineers’ Birthday and Juneteenth Celebration

Press Operations — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:46:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,600 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of the USACE birthday, June 16, and Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces Commercial Concession Opportunity at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:39:00 GMT

Enjoy a Safe and Fun Summer at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:45:00 GMT

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is excited to welcome visitors to Carlyle Lake for another recreation season. Carlyle Lake is the perfect destination for a variety of activities, from fishing and camping to boating and biking. Whether you're exploring the great outdoors or participating in our scheduled events, safety remains a top priority.

Temporary Closure of Dam West Boat Ramp and Lake Road for Celebrate the Earth

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:14:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project will host the 29th Annual Celebrate the Earth event on Friday, April 25, 2025. To ensure the safety of all participants, the Dam West Boat Ramp, Dam West Day Use, and a portion of Lake Road will be temporarily closed to the public.

Carlyle Lake Increasing Downstream Releases and Pool Elevation Update

Press Operations — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:58:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake will begin increasing water releases from the main dam on Friday, April 11, 2025. Releases will strategically be raised from 5,000 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) to about 10,000 cfs by Sunday, April 13, 2025. Increasing water releases will lower the pool elevation of Carlyle Lake, creating more capacity to store water from future rainfall events.

Carlyle Lake Increasing Downstream Releases and Pool Elevation Update

Press Operations — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:29:00 GMT

In response to current weather conditions and rising water levels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake will begin increasing water releases from the main dam on Friday, April 4, 2025. Releases will be limited to 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to reduce downstream flooding along the Kaskaskia River and other nearby tributaries.

Eagle Watch at Case-Halstead Library

Press Operations — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:53:00 GMT

Eagle Watch, a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Carlyle Lake Project and Case-Halstead Public Library, will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025. The World Bird Sanctuary will present two "All About Eagles" programs, one at 9:30 a.m. and another at 10:30 a.m., featuring a live bald eagle and offering a closer look at the fascinating nature of this iconic species.

Changes to USACE Campgrounds at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:01:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project Office announces a shift of Dam West Campground to a fully reservable campground and an increase of nightly camping fees for all USACE campgrounds effective immediately. These changes are essential to enhance the camping experience and maintain the quality of our facilities.

Autumn Activities Await Visitors of Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 14:48:00 GMT

This October, Carlyle Lake will come alive with vibrant fall colors and a variety of family-friendly events hosted by various local organizations in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mark your calendars for these fantastic seasonal happenings.

Enjoy a Safe and Fun Labor Day Weekend at Carlyle Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 15:33:00 GMT

As Labor Day weekend approaches, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is excited to welcome visitors to Carlyle Lake for a well-deserved retreat. With the promise of sunny days and outdoor adventures, we want to ensure that your time at the lake is both enjoyable and safe.

Carlyle Lake receives national water safety award

Press Operations — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 20:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps f Engineers, St. Louis District’s, Carlyle Lake was recently recognized as the 2024 USACE National Water Safety Team of the Year for their exceptional efforts in promoting water safety throughout the 2023 recreation season. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Carlyle Lake Water Safety Team demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in spreading the message of recreating safely while in and near the water to the millions of visitors who frequented the beaches and boat ramps at Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, Illinois.

Army Corps of Engineers reminds visitors to practice water safety

Press Operations — Mon, 08 May 2023 19:11:00 GMT

As millions of Americans plan visits to our nation’s lakes and rivers, 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. Tragically, people lose their lives while visiting USACE-managed lands and waters every year. Most of the tragedies are water related. The public’s help is needed to reduce the number of fatalities at the more than 2,800 USACE-managed recreation areas nationwide. USACE personnel stress the importance of water safety year-round when talking with visitors, but especially during the summer season because that is when most public recreation fatalities occur.

Eagle Watch Event at Case-Halstead Library

Press Operations — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT

CARLYLE LAKE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Case-Halstead Library, will be hosting an Eagle Watch on Saturday January 28, 2023, at the Case-Halstead Library in Carlyle, IL.

Carlyle Lake USACE Campground Upgrades and Changes

Press Operations — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT

CARLYLE LAKE – Coles Creek Campground and Boulder Campground, located on the east side of Carlyle Lake, will be undergoing updates and changes prior to the 2023 recreation season. Contractors will be performing asphalt work to upgrade the roads and campsites in both campgrounds, beginning early spring. Contractors are also currently performing tree maintenance in the campgrounds. Due to the uncertainty of when the work will be completed and weather delays, both Coles Creek and Boulder will not open until May 12, 2023. This includes the Lotus Group Area and group areas A and B within Coles Creek.

Carlyle Lake Christmas Tree Recycling Project

Press Operations — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT

CARLYLE LAKE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake will be collecting used, real Christmas trees for the annual Christmas Tree Recycling Project. The Corps of Engineers, along with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, uses these trees to provide effective and economical fish habitat at Carlyle Lake.