Against the odds, Jensen’s Grove will have water for early Summer 2026
Seth Ratliff
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — In a welcoming turn of events for locals, Jensen’s Grove will have water for the first part of the summer despite lingering concerns over regional drought conditions.
The City of Blackfoot announced on Wednesday on Facebook that water is officially being redirected back into the grove. The sudden turnaround comes after the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) adjusted the regional water priority date to 1913, temporarily loosening restrictions.
“While we don’t yet know how long the water will be allowed to flow, we’re grateful for the opportunity while it’s here,” the city stated in its social media post. “Jensen’s Grove plays an important role not only as a beautiful place for recreation and gathering, but also as a key area for aquifer recharge, helping support our local water system.”
The outlook for the popular recreation spot was grim just a few weeks ago. In late April, Blackfoot Mayor Scott Stufflebeam expressed serious doubts that Mother Nature would cooperate enough to allow the city to fill the basin.
Today, Mayor Stufflebeam said he’s “cautiously optimistic.”
“I know it’ll get cut off. There’s no question that it will or it won’t. This year, I would be surprised [if] we would be allowed to have water after mid-June,” explained Mayor Stufflebeam. “We realize the situation, We realize we’re in severe drought, and we’re going to try to enjoy it while we can and take advantage of it.”
Those doubts followed a state-ordered cutoff of all water rights junior to 1898, aside from those who’d joined an approved mitigation agreement.
Idaho follows the prior appropriation system, which gives priority to older, or “senior,” water rights during times of shortage. When supplies are limited or in a drought year, newer, or “junior,” rights can be reduced or cut off to prioritize senior holders.
The city’s water right dates back to 1900. As a result, the city was ordered to shut its floodgates.
With the water now flowing, city officials are urging residents to make the most of the unexpected good news.
“We encourage everyone to take advantage of this time—get outside, enjoy the space, and appreciate this special resource right here in Blackfoot!”
“We’re supposed to be in the mid 80s for the first part of June. So that’s a perfect time to be out there, especially if we have water,” adds Stufflebeam.