Passing of the seasons 2013

My 2013 passing of the seasons site is going to be Glen Shoals Lake in Hillsboro, Illinois.  Yes the lake is within the boundaries of the City of Hillsboro.  It was constructed as you can see below as a water supply and Flood Control Reservoir and it works well in both functions.  As you can see from the view of the Marina, it is also well used for recreational purposes.  Fishing and Boating are both very popular.  In addition, there is some residential development around the lake although lake access for residents is across city property that residents lease from the city.  The agricultural connection is that the lake was built under the USDA's Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act abbreviated PL-566.  Construction was completed in 1978.  The lake is a huge asset to the community and benfits have far exceeded the break-even point that such projects require.  The lake currently supplies water for the City of Hillsboro, Village of Coffeen, Graham Correctional Center, and some of the rural water customers in Montgomery County.  The scene could not look more wintery unless we had snow.  The lake is frozen over, the grass is dormant and the leaves are off the trees.