Saylorville Lake, USACE Rock Island District

09/04/2026

⛔ As of 11am on September 4th, E. coli levels at Oak Grove Beach at Saylorville Lake have tested above the state health standard. Swimming is not recommended in this area at this time.

Pet owners are also advised to keep animals from drinking lake water in this area, as high E. coli levels can affect them as well.

Water quality sampling is conducted routinely, and the advisory will remain in effect until follow-up tests confirm bacteria levels have returned to safe thresholds.

For further information or questions, please contact the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656.

08/31/2026

UPDATE (September 2, 2026): The Bob Shetler Recreation Area Boat Ramp and attached Neal Smith Trail have reopened. Thank you for your patience during this maintenance period.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Temporary partial closures affecting the Bob Shetler Recreation Area boat ramp and a segment of the Neal Smith Trail will take place this week for essential maintenance operations.

The boat ramp at Bob Shetler Recreation Area will be closed for public use Sept. 1-3. No vessel launching or retrieval will be permitted during this timeframe, and boaters are advised to use alternative launch facilities in the surrounding area.

Additionally, a portion of the Neal Smith Trail between mile markers 9.75 and 10.5, situated between Horseshoe Road and the Cottonwood Recreation Area, will be closed for public use Sept. 1-3. The trail bridge crossing Rock Creek will be closed to all bicycle and pedestrian traffic. No bypass or detour will be available across the creek, so trail users will need to turn around prior to reaching the posted closure or plan to use an alternate route.

These temporary closures are needed to ensure public safety while maintenance personnel and heavy machinery operate on-site. Large trucks and equipment will actively enter and exit these work areas, and drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are urged to reduce speeds and exercise caution. Visitors are asked to obey all posted barricades, signage, and personnel instructions, as unauthorized entry into active work zones is prohibited.

08/31/2026

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will implement temporary single-lane closures across the Saylorville Lake Dam roadway during overnight hours from Sept. 1 through the early morning hours of Sept. 3 to accommodate pavement marking and line striping.

Closures will begin at 8 p.m. each evening and conclude by early morning. Work will encompass line painting along the main roadway and adjacent scenic pull-off areas. Operations are scheduled overnight to minimize disruption to daytime commuter traffic.

Motorists should anticipate transit delays of approximately 15 minutes and drivers are urged to plan extra travel time, observe posted work zone speed limits, and obey all directions from on-site flaggers.

For more information, contact the Saylorville Lake Project Office at (515) 276-4656.

07/19/2026

UPDATE (8/10): The lower spillway has reopened. Thank you for your patience during this maintenance period.

--------------------------------------------------

ATTENTION: ‼️🚧
The Big Creek Lower Spillway access road is temporarily closed for maintenance. We will post again once work is complete.

Please reach out with any questions to the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 516-276-4656

07/10/2026

Oak Grove Beach is now open once again and water quality is safe for swimming! Additionally, the Control Tower access is back open as well. Have a great weekend!

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Saylorville Lake!

07/03/2026

ATTENTION: 📢🚧

Due to large amounts of rainfall overnight, the lake levels have risen. Because of this, Oak Grove Beach and the Control Tower Fishing Access have been temporarily closed until high water conditions have improved.

We will continue to monitor conditions, and updates will be posted on Facebook.

06/26/2026

Discover something wild at the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center!

Are you curious about Iowa animals or looking for a fun, hands-on activity for all ages? We have just refreshed our Touch Table, and it's packed with fascinating new items to explore.

Kids and adults alike can get up close with bones, skulls and antlers from animals found across Iowa. Bring your curiosity and stop by this weekend!

06/19/2026

UPDATE:
The Saylorville Lake Visitor Center is back open and ready for visitors! Come in and see us this weekend!

ATTENTION: Temporary Closure 🚧

The Saylorville Lake Visitor Center is temporarily closed due to sewer issues. No pass sales or voucher exchanges will take place until the Visitor Center can reopen. This closure will remain until repairs are completed.

For questions or concerns, call the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656.

05/29/2026

🚧ROAD CLOSURES 🚧 On Saturday, May 30th, the Dam to DSM running event will take place on the Saylorville Lake main dam from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
To ensure the safety of all involved, multiple roads will be temporarily closed to regular traffic during the event. Notably, the Saylorville Lake main dam will be closed to through traffic throughout the morning.

Important Information for Bob Shetler Visitors and Campers:
Campers and day-use visitors will still be able to exit via NW 78th Avenue to NW Beaver Drive.
However, re-entry to the campground and day use area will not be permitted via the main dam or Beaver Dr. until the event concludes.
Please plan accordingly if you intend to leave early in the morning, as you will be unable to return until after 9:00 AM.

The Dam to DSM event may cause traffic impacts across various parts of the Des Moines metro area. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time and consider alternative routes.
For more details about the event, including course maps and road closures, please visit the official Dam to DSM website:

The iconic tradition of running from the Saylorville Dam to Downtown Des Moines. An epic run, 45 years in the making. June 1, 2024