Illinois boat ramps, campsites on federal lands reopening

Many boat ramps, visitor centers and campsites on federal lands in Illinois are reopening with the end to the partial government shutdown.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials say furloughed employees are returning to work Thursday now that Congress passed a temporary spending bill and lifted the government's borrowing limit.

The National Great Rivers Museum in Alton is reopening too.

Some campsites, however, will remain closed because of regularly scheduled closures for the winter. Corps of Engineers spokesman Ron Fournier says 26 campsites in the Rock Island district were closed because of furloughs and seven are reopening. The rest are remaining shut because of planned winter closures.

Campers can find out which sites are reopening by going to the Corps' website or Corps district Facebook pages.