Photos: Severe drought affects the Illinois Valley

Gino Valle waters the 18th hole at Senica's Deer Park Golf Course as a bird flies through the stream on Friday, June 23, 2023. Irrigating a golf course during a drought takes a lot of water to maintain the greens. As of Thursday, the U.S. Drought monitor listed the southern half of Bureau and La Salle counties under a severe drought. All of Putnam County is in a severe drought. During this stage, agriculture is hurting with row crop and vegetable conditions are poor. Water levels in ponds, wells, rivers, lakes, ponds remain at low levels along with below average streamflow. Outdoor burn bans also were implemented. (Scott Anderson)