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  • Lake Shelbyville 4th of July Fireworks Parking and Holiday Festivities

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is gearing up for the 4th of July at Lake Shelbyville. Fireworks will be launched on July 4th at dusk from Ramp Point, located in Dam West Recreation Area. Lake Shelbyville has compiled a list of locations best suited for viewing the fireworks. Locations include Dam West Recreation Area, Dam East Recreation Area, Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center, portions of the road across the Dam, and Dam West Overlook. At 8 P.M., the Dam Road will be closed to traffic for the fireworks from the 9th street intersection to Dam East.

  • Community Cove Welcomes New Kayak Launch and Pollinator Field

    The area of public lands designated as Dam West High Water Boat Ramp, commonly referred to as “Community Cove”, recently acquired a new kayak launch and pollinator plots through various partnerships and grants. The “Community Cove” area includes the Dam West High Water Boat Ramp as well as public lands directly encompassing the boat ramp. This area extends West to Forest Park, South to the 9th Street and Dam Road intersections, and East to the Dam West Recreation Area.

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

    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

    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 experience while supporting local economic growth.

  • Enjoy a Safe and Fun Summer at Carlyle Lake

    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.

  • Rend Lake Dam West Boat Ramp Closed for Special Event May 1 & 2, 2025

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Project will temporarily close public access to Dam West Boat Ramp and Recreation Area from sunrise to 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2. This closure is to accommodate the Rend Lake Get Outdoors Event, which invites 1,500 students and teachers from across Southern Illinois for special outdoor education programs.

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

    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

    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

    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.

  • Temporary Recreation Area Closings To Conduct Dredging Activities at Lake Shelbyville

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville will be performing dredging work on the North end of the lake in 2025. Work will include dredging of the Kaskaskia river channel, starting at the Whitley Creek boat ramp and heading towards the Illinois Highway 32 bridge, located south of Sullivan, IL.