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Why Carlyle Lake was created in southern Illinois
CARLYLE, Ill. — Carlyle Lake is a man-made lake located in Clinton County, Illinois. It was created as part of the larger Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, which aimed to control flooding and improve navigation in the region.
The lake was created by damming the Kaskaskia River at Carlyle, which is 107 miles from the river’s mouth. The Dam West Levee stretches across the Kaskaskia River, impounding the lake. At normal water levels, Carlyle Lake covers 26,000 acres and is 15 miles long and 3.5 miles wide.
Photo by: Liz DowellCarlyle Lake is 15 miles long, 3.5 miles broad, and covers a total area of 26,000 acres when it is at its usual water level.
Carlyle Lake was created in response to the frequent flooding of the Kaskaskia River in Clinton County. In 1933, a group of local residents formed the Kaskaskia River Valley Project to study the physical, economic, and social aspects of the river throughout Illinois.
After completing their report, the possibility of creating a reservoir at Carlyle was discussed. In 1938, Congress passed the Flood Control Act, which made it possible to build a large reservoir at Carlyle.
The government purchased 26,000 acres for the lake, as well as land surrounding the lake for flowage easements. During the construction of the lake, several homesteads, country roads, and railroads had to be relocated.
In addition, rights to 69 oil wells were purchased and plugged to prevent pollution of the lake, and over 600 burial sites had to be moved from seven cemeteries. The Burnside Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Clinton County, was moved to Eldon Hazelet State Park.
The lake is named after the nearby town of Carlyle, which was named after Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle. In addition to its primary purpose of flood control, Carlyle Lake also serves as a place for downstream navigation on the Kaskaskia River, a water supply for local towns and industries, and a popular spot for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming.
Photo by: Liz DowellAnnually, Carlyle Lake hosts a full day of music, which is followed by a fireworks display over the lake. Bring your own food and drinks, as well as lawn chairs, blankets, and bikinis, and spend the day relaxing and having fun.
The lake is home to a diverse fish population, including large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill, and is a habitat for bald eagles, ospreys, and herons.
Carlyle Lake has had a significant economic impact on the region, attracting tourists and recreationalists and boosting the local economy. It is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who work to maintain the dam, levees, and other infrastructure at the site.
Overall, Carlyle Lake has played a vital role in the development of the region and continues to be a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.
Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.
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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.
Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.
Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.
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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.
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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.
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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.
A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.
The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.
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