Salvage order given for Jensen’s Lake

Jensen’s Grove is not getting any more water this year. The decision from the city of Blackfoot to let Jensen’s Grove drain comes early this year.

The decision is called a salvage order, but what does that mean?

It means you’ll be salvaging fish. All you’ll need an Idaho fishing license, and you can catch as many fish as you want, with only a few exceptions.

You can’t shoot them, electrocute them, use chemicals or explosives to catch them. So you’ll have to go fishing the old-fashioned way.

This order comes every year, but one important part is it’s earlier this year than in past years.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says it’s mainly due to the drought we’re experiencing.

And while it certainly doesn’t look like a drought right now, soon the sound of those soft waves along the beach will be long gone.

But once the fishing’s done, what’s going to happen with local businesses? Will they see dwindling customers? According to Camille Rupe, they won’t.

“I think most people who go to Jensen’s Grove bring a picnic have their own food and don’t really think about coming over here,” said Rupe, a server at Tommy Vaughn’s Grill just across the street. “During Pride Days, we had a couple people come over and have some drinks, but we don’t get very many people eating from the Grove.”

Rupe said Tommy Vaughn’s is busier when Jensen’s Grove is empty, so local businesses may even gain a benefit from the water being shut off early this year.

But as for the families that enjoy Jensen’s Grove, you should come on in while the water’s great, before the water’s gone.

The salvage order went into effect Wednesday, July 24, and will be effective until Jan. 1, 2014.