Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area

06/12/2026

Current closures due to high water:

Eden Street
2nd Gate at Cooks
Strickland
Regular gate at Bethany - high water is open
J Creek - please use old Nelson if you need to launch

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06/12/2026

For the next 7-10 days gates will be closed throughout the property to deal with storm damage. Gates will re-open as things get cleared away. We appreciate your patience.

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06/09/2026

The recent heavy rain has forced us to close Strickland and the 2nd gate at Cooks for safety. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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06/03/2026

From our friends at the CORPS:

Dam West recreation area and boat ramp to close
for IHSA State Bass Fishing Finals

LAKE SHELBYVILLE, Ill. — The Illinois High School Association State Bass Fishing Finals will be held at Lake Shelbyville on June 5 and 6 at the Dam West Boat Ramp.

To accommodate tournament activities, the Dam West Recreation Area past the beach turn off will be open only to participating teams, spectators and event staff beginning at 8 p.m. June 4 through 8 p.m. June 6.

Unlike last year, Dam West Beach will remain open to the public throughout the tournament.

Tournament takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. June 5 and 6. Weigh-ins will begin at 3 p.m. both days at the Dam West Large Group Shelter.

The general public is encouraged to attend and support the youth participating in the IHSA State Bass Fishing Finals. Spectator parking will be available free of charge in the Dam West Beach parking lot. Upon entering the beach parking area, beach users should park in the lot to the right, while tournament spectators should park in the lot to the left and walk to the takeoff and weigh-in areas.

Teams will conduct official practice June 4, and boaters are strongly encouraged to use an alternative boat ramp that day.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville, the City of Shelbyville and all event partners are excited to welcome these young anglers to the area. We appreciate the public's support and apologize for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause.

For more information about the IHSA State Bass Fishing Finals, boat ramp availability or beach access, contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951 or email [email protected].

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05/15/2026

A quick pardon our mess - staff will be out mowing roadsides, levee tops, and repairing roads over the coming weeks, please proceed with caution and give ample space for the tractors and equipment. Thanks!

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05/14/2026

From our friends at the CORPS:

Temporary Road Closure- Lake Shelbyville Dam

Lake Shelbyville – The road across the main dam at Lake Shelbyville will be closed at 8 A.M. on May 18th till 5 P.M. on May 21st. The closures apply to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic; access to the Dam West Overlook area will also to be closed at this time.

These closures are necessary to provide safety for workers and members of the general public while work is being conducted.

The Corps of Engineers recognizes the impact of road closures on the public and appreciates your patience and understanding.

For the latest updates, please visit the Lake Shelbyville US Amry Corps of Engineers page.

For additional information, contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951.

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05/08/2026

Primary gates at Bethany boat launch have been closed due to flooding, however the high water side remains open.

J. Creek is currently open, however the lower gate may be closed to vehicular traffic in the coming days due to rising water levels.

***Old Nelson launch ramp can be utilized during times of high water closures of J. Creek.

Eden street access is now closed due to high water.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

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05/08/2026

Due to vandalism of the concrete picnic bench at J Creek, staff have had to remove it.

05/06/2026

Due to flooding we have temporarily closed Strickland and the second gate at Cooks in the interest of public safety. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have it open soon! Thank you

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04/17/2026

From our friends at the Lake Shelbyville, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Access Update for Ken Kenney’s at Lake Shelbyville

Lake Shelbyville – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating the public access to Ken Kenney’s at Lake Shelbyville, commonly labeled as Site #46 on USACE hunting and fishing maps. The roadway leading to the site is privately owned and is not a designated public access route.
This location has previously been identified in USACE publications as a hunter and fisherman parking area. The agency is updating its maps and publications to clarify that the roadway is private property and not open for public access.
USACE has since worked with the private landowners to secure a formal access easement for agency operational purposes. This easement is limited to USACE use only and does not permit public access.
To ensure clarity and to respect private property rights, USACE will be installing signage in the coming days and updating official maps and publications to reflect this change.
Visitors to Lake Shelbyville are encouraged to utilize designated public access areas for recreational activities.
USACE remains committed to maintaining strong partnerships with local landowners while continuing to provide safe and accessible recreation opportunities. For additional information, contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at (217) 774-3951.

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