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Welcome to Rend Lake Recreation Complex Millions visit annually. Some golf, others boat, camp, hunt, shoot, or horseback ride. Some visit to see the beauty in the art gallery, others to see the beauty in the numerous hiking trails and wildlife preserves. Many attend one of several festivals held annually, while still others attend conferences. Whatever their reason for coming, most of the three-million plus visitors to Rend Lake each year don't consider the uniqueness of the area, its heritage, or its impact on Southern Illinois. History of Rend Lake In the 1950's, Southern Illinois experienced a three-year drought which practically broke the back of the economy. Even though the area is located between two of the nation's great rivers and crisscrossed by rivers and creeks, ground water is scarce. When water supplies reached a critical low, waterworks operators from towns in the drought area met to find a solution to their problems. Their meeting resulted in the formation of an association dedicated to pursue the construction of a large water supply lake. The proposed lake was named Rend, after a nearby ghost town founded by Colonel Rend, a local coal mine operator. The Rend Lake Association made numerous attempts to raise adequate funding for their project, The financial burden of building a large, man-made lake, however, was much too large for local communities to shoulder. As luck would have it, an association member came across a conservancy law, drafted in 1925, which had never been used.
Traditionally, conservancy districts are developed out of the need for collective action to control floods. They allow citizens within a watershed (the region drained by a river) to
create a local unit of government to control floodwater. Their purpose was expanded during drought years to include storage of flood-waters in man-made reservoirs.
In the spring of 1954, the Big Muddy Watershed, through the efforts of the Rend Lake Association, petitioned for election the following year. In 1955, the proposal passed, and the Rend Lake Conservancy District (RLCD) became the first in Illinois. Under the Conservancy District Act, RLCD has powers similar to municipalities, including the right of eminent domain. They have the power to issue bonds, assess taxes, and enter into contracts with other governmental agencies. Conferences and studies involving other agencies were ongoing from the start. The State of Illinois funded preliminary engineering studies, land acquisition and highway relocation. Numerous state agencies, including two universities, worked to advance the planning portion of the project. By 1963, the conservancy district, the state of Illinois and the federal government jointly entered into a contract for a feasibility study of an inter-city water system, which were incorporated into plans for the lake's development. In November 1967, the U.S. Corps of Engineers allowed contracts for 12 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING APRIL 1999
construction or the Rend Lake Dam and Reservoir. The federal act that allowed its construction also called for recreational development around the lake. Such demands on a sparsely populated region resulted in a unique combination of local, state, and federal management, which is the backbone of Rend Lake's success and its diversity. A unique partnership "You won't find an entity in the world that is similar to ours with respect to its management," claims Kevin Davis, RLCD General Manager. Working for the common good of Southern Illinois, several partners manage, maintain and develop the 18,900-acre Rend Lake and 21,000 acres of surrounding public lands. Primary among the many businesses and agencies involved in promoting Rend Lake, are the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Rend Lake Conservancy District. "The cooperation between the three agencies, federal, state, and local, makes Rend Lake the most successful lake in the Midwest," states Ralph Hamilton, site Superintendent for Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "Each of us bring special abilities and interests in terms of development, marketing, preservation, and other such activities, and the synergy created by these combinations make Rend Lake a fine example of agency cooperation for the optimum public service." The state's major contribution to Rend Lake lies in its 3,300 acre Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. Rend Lake Resort, served by Tri-County Electric Cooperative, provides cabins and boatel rental suites, a hotel/convention center, gasoline for boats, courtesy boat launches and dock slips, a restaurant, and a convenience store. In addition, numerous campgrounds, from primitive to paved, with electric hook-ups are available throughout the park. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park is also an excellent area for hunting, fishing, boating, swimming, camping and picnicking. The park also operates a hunting preserve and premiere state field trial facility.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers play an important role in managing both public hunting and non-hunting wildlife areas at Rend Lake. The state maintains a goose refuge and two nature preserves with provisions for crop planting to feed upland game. About 5,000 acres of prime waterfowl habitat is also managed by the state. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the management of Rend Lake's 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of its surrounding lands. Their natural resource management personnel strive to provide high quality outdoor recreational lands and waters for fish and wildlife. A comprehensive wildlife management program provides habitat for waterfowl, upland game and non-game species.
Besides its obvious interest in wildlife management, the Corps of Engineers manages over 800 campsites, two public beaches, hiking and nature trails, lakeside picnicking facilities, and a marina on Rend Lake. The Dale Miller Youth area is available for group camping and a Corps' Visitors Center provides many informative exhibits and activities. An amphitheater hosts a variety of outdoor entertainment. "Of over 440 Corps of Engineers lakes throughout the United States, Rend Lake stands as the only one with a managing partner from the local region, the Rend Lake Conservancy District," said Phillip K. Jenkins, Project Manager, Rend Lake Project Office, U.S. Department of the Army. "This relationship makes Rend Lake uniquely joined to the needs and opportunities of the local APRIL 1999 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 13
communities, and creates a cooperation that has not been duplicated." Agency cooperation extends beyond the RLCD and state and federal governments. Among the many businesses and agencies involved in Rend Lake promotions are the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Board, Rend Lake Resort, Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rend Lake College, Franklin County Tourism Bureau, Franklin County Sheriff's Department, Season Lodge and Restaurant at Rend Lake, and the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center. A major public utility The primary responsibilities of The Rend Lake Conservancy District include management of the Inter-city Water System and waste-water treatment facility. The intercity system provides high quality water on a wholesale, long-term contract basis at one of the lowest rates in the nation. Thanks to power from both Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Mt. Vernon and SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, Eldorado, Rend Lake currently provides water to over 300,000 people in the seven surrounding counties, reaching more than 60 communities. "Having that water available allows people who elect to build out in the country to have the same quality of life as some of those people who live in the city," said Mick Cummins, General Manager of SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative. The RLCD also owns and operates a sewage treatment facility with a 150,000-gallon per day treatment capacity. This intricate infrastructure continues to grow as Demand increases. A recent $1.25 million water project underway by the district will make water available for the first time in several communities and enhance existing service provided to others. Many people affected by the new project will have access to water-lines for the first time. Among the benefits to the cities and communities the system serves is the guarantee of an abundant water supply, no increase in bonded indebtedness from enlarging water impoundment and treatment plants, and increased industrial development which ultimately provides thousands of jobs and several million dollars in tax revenues annually. To a region whose past has been laden with water shortages, droughts, and lost opportunity, the RLCD is providing more than water. Recreational facilities Seasons Lodge
Staying at Season's means instant access to the pro-shop, restaurant, golf course, and Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center, featuring the works of over 900 of the State's finest artisans. More than 92,000 people visit the Artisans Shop annually. It features an Illinois Gallery, which hosts special showings and events and provides for interpretative activities, educational workshops, and demonstrations. Area tourist information is also available here. Seasons Lodge also provides easy access to Rend Lake, The RL Shooting Complex and Hunting Preserve, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, Rancho Bandera Stables, Rend Lake Marina, RL College Aquatic Center, The National Coal Museum, and many nearby communities packed with interesting sites and sounds of their own. Golf Central to the area's recreation is the Rend Lake Golf Course. Renowned Chicago architect, Lawrence A. Packard, designed this outstanding public golf course as a 27-hole complex. Original construction consisted of 18 holes, opening in 1976. The final 9 holes were added in 1994 to meet demand. The existing 27-hole course is a delight for golfers of all skill levels.
The facility is unique in its success given its market and pricing structure. Over 35,000 visit the rural Southern Illinois course annually. The Rend Lake Golf Course has been rated as one of the best public courses in the Midwest and fees range from $32 to $36 for 18 holes (including cart). Shooting Complex The Rend Lake Shooting Complex is a state of the art 14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING APRIL 1999 
shooting facility. Located near the Hunting Preserve Club-House you will find:
Paved walkways link all sites for added comfort and convenience, and make the complex the only one in the Midwest to be wheel-chair accessible. Shooters of all skill levels appreciate the surrounding 400 acres of timber, hedgerows and prairie that make the perfect background for the facility, allowing for high scoring capabilities. Hunting Preserves The RL Hunting Preserve was established to meet the needs of sportsmen of all interest and skill levels. With an agriculture program suited to complement the shooting preserve, Rend Lake has long been known as the premiere public waterfowl hunting site in Illinois. The hunting preserve operates controlled game hunts any time of the year, with professional guides and highly trained pointing dogs. This format provides for a completely safe situation and the ultimate hunting experience. The preserve features upland game (pheasant, chukar, quail) and at the conclusion of your hunt, the birds are cleaned, packaged, and refrigerated. Fields are maintained at high bird population to insure success and active, fun-filled days of shooting. There is no limit.
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park operates a second hunting preserve at Rend Lake. This is a pheasant put-and-take program, open only during the hunting season. The park has the honor of being the premiere state field trial facility. Future plans The future looks bright for this already astounding recreation complex. Plans exist for expanding many existing facilities, and work is already in progress at the shooting complex. Renovations include adding a 3-D archery range, 36-station professional sporting clays course and a five-stand course. Other immediate expansion plans bring construction of a convenience market/gas station between 1-57 and the Golf Course. RLCD owns and maintains approximately 1500 additional acres of land in its agricultural program. This land is available for future development of recreational amenities, retirement residences, commercial, lodging, and related facilities. Winery development is currently being targeted, as well as studies into the feasibility of an exposition center to attract additional visits to the area. State and regional leadership Working together with existing organizations, the RLCD is able to maximize its contribution to the region in areas such as tourism, health care, economic development, education, and rural affairs. "The district keeps an open view of its position in the community," said Davis. "We look at the impact of Rend Lake on the entire region and strive to maximize its benefits to the people in Southern Illinois and beyond. It's all about working together." For more information If you would like to take advantage of the many recreational activities available, contact Seasons Lodge and Restaurant at 1-800-999-0977. APRIL 1999 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 15 |
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