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Board, Officers & Personnel The RCD Board of Directors is comprised of five property owners within the district. To be on the board, your primary residence must be registered within the taxing district and you must be a registered voter. The board member terms last for five years and become due to expire in a staggered pattern so that each year only one board member's position will expire. At that time, the existing board member, as well as any other interested parties, must apply at the County Clerk's office at the Ogle County Courthouse and be interviewed for the new term. Applications for normal end of terms should be in by the end of March as the position officially starts on May 1st. This same process will apply for a position that is open midterm. Openings are announced in the local newspapers, the bulletin boards at the front entrances to Lost Lake, on our Facebook page, and here on our website.  Click here to view/download a Board of Trustees Application For Appointment form Board meetings are open to the public and occur on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Lake Court Center. Our Current Board of Directors: (left to right) Hal Warren, Tim Spelde, Doug Jones, Tim Sanders, Norm Eakley ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Tim Spelde (President) • Facilitates meetings and manages organization • Oversees employees • Attends to all legal matters and interpretations • FOIA Officer • Oversees RCD asset management, including building, grounds, beaches, and parks • Involved in the preparation of the Annual Budget • Manages the dam, including maintenance • Works with Wildlife Manager to ensure proper application of wildlife control techniques • Responsible for campground issues and upkeep including road access • Oversees RCD Lake Security Program, including boating and dock regulatory enforcement • Liaison with Lost Lake POA and Lost Lake Utility District • Oversees Hunting Program • Responsible for Fish Stocking and Management Program Hal Warren (Vice President) • Runs meetings and manages organization during absence of President • Oversees Watershed Program • Manages Silt Basins • Reviews and approves all dock construction/shoreline improvements • Oversees Private Dock Compliance Norm Eakley (Treasurer / Secretary) • Signs financial documents such as the Budget & Appropriation and Tax Levy • Oversees all financial operations of the RCD • Manages Lake Court Center building upkeep Doug Jones (Member at Large) Tim Sanders (Member at Large) Beth Caudill (Employee - Office Manager) • Manages all administrative needs of the RCD, including all required postings, meeting minutes, etc. • Manages use of Community Center, Campground, Lake, and properties; maintains boat and dock registrations • Maintains and updates website • Advisor to the President and Board on legal administrative issues • FOIA Officer • Helps prepare for and attend meetings • Performs Financial Duties, including creating budget and levy, annual and monthly reports, employee tax filing • Prepares Financial Reports Shawn Parish (Employee - Grounds Maintenance) • Caretaker and Maintenance of Lake Court Center, Beaches, Parks, and Campground Rebecca Olson (Olson Ecological Solutions) (Contractor - Grant Manager) • Researches, Manages and Applies for Grants on behalf of the RCD • Wetland and Shoreline Plant Advisor • Helps Supervise Watershed Program Meetings Joe Rush (JadEco) (Contractor - Aquatic Manager) • Advises Board on Management of the Lake and Grant Funded Projects • Inspects Shoreline Improvements • Advises at Watershed Program Meetings • Advises Board on Dredging • Completes electroshocking surveys and provides recommendations for fish stocking

Beaches The Lost Lake RCD owns and manages the two lake swimming beaches within the Lost Lake community: "West Beach", and "North Beach". The West Beach is located on the West side of the community along Birch Lane, while the North Beach is on the East side of the community at the end of Beech Lane. Both beaches have porta-potties, picnic tables and charcoal grills. The following rules govern the use of the beaches and shall be enforced by the Lost Lake RCD:  SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK; NO LIFEGUARD PRESENT  1. The beach water is not suitable for drinking. Avoid swallowing water. 2. Admission to the beach may be refused to all persons having any contagious disease, infectious conditions such as colds, fever, ringworm, foot infections, skin lesions, carbuncles, boils, diarrhea, vomiting, inflamed eyes, ear discharges, or any other condition which has the appearance of being infectious. A person under the influence of alcohol or exhibiting erratic behavior shall not be permitted in the beach area. 3. Littering is prohibited. In addition, no food, drink, gum or tobacco is allowed in the water. Glass containers are prohibited throughout the beach area. 4. All children who are not toilet trained shall wear tight-fitting rubber or plastic pants. 5. No one should swim alone. 6. Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible person 16 years of age or older. 7. Personal conduct within the beach area must be such that safety is not jeopardized. 8. Diving is not permitted. 9. Swimming is prohibited after sunset or before sunrise, or when thunder is heard or lightning is seen, including a 15-minute period after the last lightning or thunder is detected. 10. No pets are permitted in the beach area. 11. Feeding of wildlife or actions that encourage their presence is prohibited.  12. Protection from sun exposure is advised for persons on the beach area. Examples include wearing sunscreen, wearing clothing and hats, or staying in shaded areas. Water Testing To prevent illnesses associated with swimming at Illinois beaches, each licensed beach (including the two beaches within the Lost Lake community) is inspected annually to determine that required safety features are in place and there are no sources of possible pollution such as sewage discharges. These inspections are done either by the Illinois Department of Public Health or a local health department, or, in Chicago, by the Chicago Park District. The Department also requires that each of the 335 licensed public beaches be sampled every two weeks to determine that bacterial levels in the water are within limits established in the Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code (77 Ill. Admin. Code 820). The maximum E. coli level allowed – 235 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters (cfu/100mL) – is based on guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for recreational waters. Two sample bottles are mailed to each licensed beach operator every two weeks, beginning in May and concluding in September, for sampling the shallow and deep areas of the beach. If both of the sample results exceed 235 cfu per 100 mL, the operator is ordered to immediately close the beach. If one of the sample results exceeds the 235 level, the facility is required to submit two additional samples. If either of those re-sample results exceeds 235 cfu/100mL, the beach is ordered to close. Beaches are allowed to reopen when both samples collected on the same day have less than 235 cfu/100mL. The Department's regulations also contain a maximum standard for fecal coliform bacteria (500 cfu per 100 mL); the same testing frequency and closing procedures apply. Both E. coli and fecal coliform serve as good indicators of bacterial contamination because they live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. E. coli is a subgroup of the fecal coliform bacteria. The water quality at many Illinois beaches can be influenced by heavy rainfall. If a recent heavy rainfall makes the water look cloudy, the beach may not be safe even if the most recent sample results were satisfactory. Use common sense and good judgment anytime you swim in natural waters. If the water does not look inviting, don't swim. Since most of the swimming-related disease outbreaks in Illinois have been associated with fecal discharges from swimmers, the Department requires that all children who are not toilet trained wear tight-fitting rubber or plastic pants. Swimmers are advised not to drink the beach water. If you have any questions about the bathing beach program, contact the Department's Division of Environmental Health at 217-782-5830.

$600,000 Watershed Partnership EPA Grant Approved! (continued from Home Page)   FEBRUARY 2013 The RCD is pleased to announce that we have received approval for a 319 Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), officially titled “Upper Babbling Brook Multi-BMP Project”, to address the stabilization and improvement of over three miles of Babbling Brook which flows through the Bettner Farm, beginning at its source and ending at the boundary of the Nachusa Grass Lands newly acquired Orland property. The grant application was mailed to the EPA in July 2012.  To view/download the Grant Application (.pdf), click here . Project Details: • Stabilization of over 3000 feet of stream bank • Installation of over 4500 feet of fencing to limit cattle access to the stream that flows through pasture lands • Installation of several cattle crossings that limit cattle to stream access as well as crossing at non-erodible stream bank locations • Construction of over three acres of a silt containment/peripheral wetlands area for increased water filtration • Re-meandering of over 1000 feet of stream that was at one time straightened • Re-tiling of current pastureland to allow filtered drainage of an area prone to soil erosion • Development of a 10-year Watershed Maintenance Program to ensure long term viability of the project As some may ask, “why the heck should we be interested in this or spend the dollars doing this?” Here are the answers: The RCD has and will continue to be on a long term program supporting our mission, which is to protect and improve the Clear Creek Watershed of which Lost Lake is part of. In reality, of the 10,000 acres comprising the watershed, Lost Lake covers only a little over 88 acres (.9%), but is the “recipient” of whatever the remaining 9,922 acres throw at it. So in order to accomplish any improvement on the lake itself, and downstream to the Rock River, we need to do whatever we can to improve the rest of the watershed. The only way to do that is by reducing the amount of non-point sources of silt, fertilizers, farmland runoff, etc. that flow downstream from the water sources of Clear Creek and Babbling Brook. Currently, Nachusa Grass Lands cover an area of over 3000 acres which Clear Creek flows through. As stewards of the land, we have seen the work they have done reap the benefits of a major drop in runoff entering the lake through Clear Creek. Babbling Brook is the other major source of silt and materials flowing into the lake. The Bettner Farm purchased land north of Hay Road, which contains the headwaters of Babbling Brook, and except for a few acres, contains over three miles of the brook. What this says is that this length of Babbling Brook is the last area we can improve to significantly lower silt and other farm runoff flowing into the lake. Nachusa Grasslands, with its acquisition of the Orland property that borders the lake and community, will manage the rest of the improvements on their property. This is essentially the third major grant funded project supported by the EPA the RCD will tackle in the past 5 years that supports its mission. The first was establishing the Clear Creek Watershed Planning Committee and completing a comprehensive watershed plan, approved by the Natural Resources and Conservation Services (NRCS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This involved the RCD beginning a shoreline stabilization program that continues today. The second was the Babbling Brook Stabilization Project completed this past year. These are significant projects, that when added to this grant, total well over a million dollars of improvement to our watershed the result of which will be improved water clarity, less silt, less fertilizers, more plant growth, more fish and aquatic life throughout the watershed, including Lost Lake. Finally, collectively these projects will greatly reduce the amount of silt and other runoff materials that enter our lake and in some cases find their way to the Rock River by increasing natural filtration and/or greatly slowing down the rate at which water flows into and through the watershed and streams. Reducing silt alone will reduce future costs and frequency of dredging the lake. Once this project is completed, the RCD will be planning to dredge, the last of this long term plan we now have in play. Cost Details of the 319 Grant The total grant is for $600,000 of which $240,000 (40%) must be matched either in dollars and/or in-kind. “In-kind” is defined as hours, value of equipment and materials, donated dollars, etc., that are directly attributed to the grant. As an example, as Project Manager, I keep track of my hours and a value is placed on them. Although I receive no payment for those hours, as a volunteer their value goes against the match, effectively reducing actual dollars the RCD must pay out of its budget to support the project. As a member of the Watershed Partnership, Ed Bettner and his family have joined the RCD’s efforts and have signed on to the Watershed Plan supported by the RCD, The EPA and the NRCS. Since the work will also benefit the Bettner Farm, the Bettner Farm will contribute $120,000 of the $240,000 required match. The RCD will provide the other half.  The Project Team will consist of Steve Larry, Project Manager; Marty Portner, RCD Liaison and PR Consultant; Becky Breckenfelder, Grant Administration Assistant; Joe Rush, On-site Construction Consultant; Rebecca Olson, Grant Administrator and Wetlands Consultant; Dick Baumann, Engineering Consultant; and Ed Bettner, Construction Manager. For those of you who recall the Babbling Brook Project, except for Marty and Ed, this team was responsible for bringing that project in on time and on budget. So we have an expert team in place for this one. When will the project begin? In actuality, it already has. Preliminary engineering and design work was completed as part of the grant application process and as noted above, our team has been formed. So actual “construction” could begin as early as this fall, weather permitting with completion sometime next year. Meeting this aggressive time line, although not easy, can be accomplished. As for all of what the RCD does, this project will have full transparency. Updates will be posted on our web site and everyone interested in keeping up with the project may also do so by attending our regularly scheduled monthly meetings.  Grant Application Exhibits: Click on the below thumbnail images to expand Show More

Registration & Rental Forms Forms and applications for boat stickers, RCD dock rentals, Lake Court Center rental, camping and more are available below. After completion, the forms can be returned to the RCD: Drop off during office hours Drop into the after-hours drop box next to the Office door Mail to Lost Lake RCD, 404 Lake Court, Dixon, IL 61021 Email to beth.caudill@lostlakercd.org If you have any questions, call us at 815-652-2006. BOATS AND DOCKS Boat Registration & Optional Rack Rental , or complete online Here Dock Rental Application Dock Rental Map Private Dock Registration Dock and Shoreline Improvement Form Dock and Shoreline Improvement Ordinance Guest Boat Pass Winter Boat Storage CAMPING Campground Rental Form Campground Map LAKE COURT CENTER (LCC) LCC Rental Form LCC Hold Harmless Agreement LCC Liability Insurance Sample Tables/Chairs Rental (for indoor use other than at LCC) SHORELINE STABILIZATION Dock and Shoreline Improvement Form Dock and Shoreline Improvement Resolution Dock and Shoreline Variance Application RipRap SOP Re-Vegetation SOP BOW HUNTING 2025-2026 Hunting Application & Liability Waiver 2025-2026 IDNR Deer Archery Regulations Hunting Map RCD BOARD Applicati on for Appointment to the RCD Board FOIA Request Form

Shoreline Stabilization Shoreline Stabilization Ordinance  Shoreline Stabilization RipRap SOP  Shoreline Stabilization Re-Vegetation SOP Shoreline Improvement Application Construction Variance Application Private Dock Registration  

RCD Boat Dock Rental Did you know that the RCD has 16 boat dock spaces on the shoreline of Lost Lake for seasonal rental? The docks are 10-feet long, and six spaces are located at the West Side Boat Launch area, while eight spaces are located at the East Side Boat Launch area. Rental is $300 per year (May 1 to October 25). For complete rental information, view/download the form below.  RCD Boat Dock Rental Form

Contact Us We are here to answer any questions you have! OFFICE: Lost Lake RCD 404 Lake Court Dixon, IL 61021 [Google Map, click here ] Hours: Monday & Friday 9am-5pm  TELEPHONE: 815-652-2006  EMAIL: Beth Caudill, Office Manager Tim Spelde, President Hal Warren, Vice President Norm Eakley, Treasurer/Secretary Doug Jones, Board Member Tim Sanders, Board Member Your details were sent successfully! Send

RCD and Lake Court Center Calendar The calendar below displays RCD meeting dates, special events, community events, facility rentals, and more. Click on a day to expand the listing information.