Posted on August 6, 2025
Multiple river recreation projects in Pike and Calhoun counties have been recommended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ St. Louis District.
The proposals are listed a more than 500-page River Projects Master Plan that “guides public use and natural resource management of over 48,000 acres of federal lands for environmental stewardship and recreational purposes.”
The plan mainly focuses on recreation-related river projects tied to camping or fishing, though there also are archeological projects proposed in Calhoun County in collaboration with the Center for American Archeology.
The plan doesn’t address regional dredging, water quality or other environmental restoration projects.
The plan has been updated sporadically since 1948; this year’s update is the sixth and comes a decade since the last.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the proposed developments are not guaranteed to happen but were included in the master plan based on conversations and plans with municipalities, land managers and other groups.
Pike County
- Gosline Island Access | Widen parking lot and boat ramp. Install designated primitive camping area and trash cans. Dredge the boat ramp channel to the river. Work with Illinois Department of Natural Resources to develop formal agreement for waterfowl blind program.
- Two Rivers Recreation Area | Rehabilitate/replace boat ramp to accommodate larger boats and fluctuating river pools, including silt removal, shoreline protection and replacing courtesy dock with slips for accessibility. Dredge boat channel from boat ramp to river. Monitor recreation usage to decide possible parking lot expansion.
- Upper Pool 24 Illinois Lands/Islands Area | Work with IDNR to develop waterfowl blind program. Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program project planned for over 3,000 acres in Denmark, Upper Drift, Lower Drift, Cottonwood and Bay islands; tentatively, it includes checking biological life levels, invasive species control, tree planting, wet prairie establishment, sediment plug removal and mussel habitat improvements.
- Two Rivers North Access Area (formerly Pike Station) | Maintain shoreline to protect parking lot for day use of picnic tables, grills, etc. Pursuing a challenge cost-share partnership with town to improve access. Remove boat ramp, reduce parking area, add picnic shelters, create multi-use trails, reseal parking lot.
- Willow North and Willow South access areas | Relocate Willow North Access Area to main river, add one-way road with small parking lot, handicap fishing area, create riverfront fishing access. Willow South Access facilities removed, area reforested and reclassified as vegetative management.
- Murphy’s Bay Access Area | Build a minimum facility turnaround on the public road for safety. Continue to phase out private recreational cottage leases.
- Turkey Lake Access Area | Close the Willow South Access and relocate the concrete boat ramp and crushed stone parking lot to the Turkey Lake Access for public access to larger boats on river. Build a minimum facility turnaround on the public road for safety. Continue to phase out private recreational cottage leases.
- Cincinnati Landing Access Area (across from Gilbert Island) | Continue to phase out private recreational cottage leases.
Calhoun County
- Calhoun Point Wildlife Management Area | Open service access in eastern area for public. Relocate Royal Landing Access facilities somewhere else because sediments keep getting deposited there from upstream river training structure. Rehabilitate or remove the restrooms.
- Deer Plain Access Area | Continue phasing out private recreational college leases. Cabin lot surveys are to be expected as funding allows.
- Calhoun Division Refuge (Swan Lake) | At least one overlook added for “Watchable Wildlife” purposes. Expand moist soil and other wetland management areas. Level with moist soil because of sediment loss and water delivery. Expand fishing opportunities.
- Swan Lake Access Area | Include handicapped-accessible recreational fishing pier, including vehicle/trailer parking, interpretive and environmental education panels, ADA-compliant transfer dock by boat ramp and a bank fishing platform.
- Blooms Landing Access Area | Construct elevated boardwalks and trails. Add handicapped-accessible recreational fishing pier, interpretive panels and other public-use improvements, including vehicle/trailer parking, interpretive and environmental education panels, ADA-compliant transfer dock by boat rank and bank fishing platform.
- Fuller Lake Wildlife Management Area | Assess and possibly relocate landing boat ramp away from destructive river currents. Plant small grains and add 18 inches of water to the borrow pits that formed after the construction of a silt deflection dike.
- Mortland Island Area | Add primitive camping areas, trails and overlook.
- Godar Refuge-Diamond Island-Hurricane Island Wildlife Management Area | Removal or rehabilitation of restroom facilities.
- Michael Access Area | Continue to phase out private recreational cottage leases. Evaluate minimum facility developments for public.
- Willow Island Area | Add interpretive trail and panels in partnership with Center for American Archeology and/or city of Kampsville. Manage wetland units adjacent to Crawford Creek.
- Crater Landing Access Area | Minimum facility turnaround on public road for safety. Continue to phase out private recreational cottage leases.
- Kampsville Lock and Dam Access Area | Evaluate to see if can be added to National Register of Historic Places. Add interpretive trail and panels in partnership with Center for American Archeology or city of Kampsville. Work with center to add companion exhibit to its center. Conduct sub-surface archaeological testing with center.
- Cockrell Hollow Access Area | Remove posts and tie-downs, replace or remove the boat loading pier and stairs, continue to phase out private recreational cottage leases.
- Lock & Dam 25 Area | Replace multiple buildings: lockhouse, maintenance buildings, overlook, storage. Add additional lock chamber and other upgrades to lock-and-dam structure. Upgrade visitor amenities at its Winfield Access, including the nature trail adjacent to the lock security fencing, a new visitor viewing tower/platform, waterborne restroom replacement, trail surface improvements, dredge Sandy Slough, resurface parking lot, create additional picnic areas, add solar security lighting, make picnic shelter, develop signage for site trails, add parking lot by vehicle bridge, assess boat ramp by vehicle bridge and construct paddling access.
- Lock & Dam 25 Spillway Access Road Area | Add gravel service road with culverts.
- Batchtown Division Refuge | Relocate and rehabilitate pump station so it’s north of the Mississippi water control structure instead of south. Add public road easement for Gilead Access Area.
- Red’s Landing Wildlife Management Area | Repair restrooms. Add shoreline fishing area surrounding the river boat access area. Excavate shallow ditches to connect sloughs in flooded timber area. Improve water level management.
- Dog Island | Connect the Rip Rap Wildlife Management Area lands with Dog Island Wildlife Management Area lands if the Illinois Department of Natural Resources can acquire the land.
- Lock & Dam 24 Area | Add more interpretive signage to overlook area.
- Pleasant Hill Access Area | Dredge boat ramp channel. Develop pull-off area for fishing and other activities between boat ramp and turnaround at the end of road. Potential trail development.
