Lake Shelbyville high water update and high water ramp closures
Date: 29.DEC.09
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville has announced the closure of several high water boat ramps. Due to snow-covered and slick conditions, Dam West and Opossum Creek high water boat ramps are closed to the public until further notice.

Currently, Lone Point, Bo Wood, Wilborn Creek, Lithia Springs, Eagle Creek State Park, and Wolf Creek State Park high water boat ramps remain open.

If you are planning to visit any of the open high water boat ramps it may be slick and you are strongly urged to use caution in these areas. Be sure to wear your life jacket around the water and carry an extra set of dry clothing in case you do get wet. Hypothermia can set in very quickly.

Lake Shelbyville’s pool elevation at 8:00 a.m. on December 28 was 615.78 feet referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD).

The discharge rate is approximately 3,200 cubic feet per second (cfs). The current inflow rate is 6,570 cubic feet per second (cfs). The crest prediction is less than 616 feet for December 30.

The discharge rate was increased beginning Monday, December 28 and the rate was increase to 3,700 cfs by the end of the day on Monday, and allowed to climb to 4,500 cfs by the end of today.

Low-lying areas along the river will flood at this release.

All secondary boat ramps are closed. This includes Coal Shaft Bridge, Sand Cove Road, Johnson’s Bluff and West.

The Illini Backpacking Trail, which runs from Lone Point Recreation Area to Eagle Creek State Park, Coon Creek Trail, and Okaw Bluff Trail are all closed. Hikers can still use the Camp Camfield Trail and the General Dacey Trail.

As the water at Lake Shelbyville continues to remain above normal levels, visitors should be aware that more areas might be temporarily impacted. Call ahead for information before coming to the lake.

Information will be available on the Lake Shelbyville Information Line at 217-774-2020 or contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at 217-774-3951. Revised news releases will be issued as lake conditions change