Bear Lake County Water Intelligence Brief

August 31, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Bear River flows are rising at the Pescadero gauge, with current readings at 1,010 cfs — the dominant late-season delivery signal for Bear Lake County irrigators this week. Conditions across the basin reflect typical late-August hydrology, with snowpack-driven supply fully transitioned to reservoir release and baseflow regimes; irrigators should plan around current delivery volumes rather than anticipating additional snowmelt contribution. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations in the Bear River Basin are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of August 30, 2026 — consistent with normal late-August conditions, when median SWE for this date is also 0.0" at most stations.

Station Readings (August 30, 2026):

The trace readings at Emigrant Summit, Giveout, and the shallow depth values at Franklin Basin and Tony Grove Lake likely reflect residual late-season compacted or shaded snow rather than meaningful accumulated SWE. For planning purposes, snowpack is effectively exhausted basin-wide. As background context, 2026 was characterized by an anomalous March heat wave that drove meltout 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — meaning seasonal streamflow peaked earlier than normal, and the basin entered its baseflow-dominated period well ahead of schedule.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River at Border, WY: 61 cfs (stable, August 30) — This upper-basin gauge reflects modest inflow from Wyoming headwaters. Stable conditions indicate no significant precipitation-driven pulse entering the system from the east.

Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,010 cfs (rising, August 31) — The primary in-basin gauge for Bear Lake County agricultural planning. The rising trend at Pescadero is the most operationally significant reading in this brief, suggesting increased releases or upstream inflow are moving through the system. Irrigators drawing from the Bear River mainstem should note this upward trend and confirm current delivery status with their ditch company or irrigation district.

Bear River near Corinne, UT: 287 cfs (rising, August 31) — Downstream of Bear Lake, this gauge reflects outflow from the system. Rising conditions here are consistent with the rising signal at Pescadero, indicating increased flows are moving through the basin.

Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Companies' Dam near Hyrum, UT: 51 cfs (stable, August 31) — A tributary system providing context for the Cache Valley portion of the basin. Stable at modest late-season levels.

Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 24 cfs (rising, August 31) — Rising conditions on this tributary are notable for a late-August date; irrigators in this drainage should monitor whether the trend reflects a brief pulse or a sustained increase.

Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 71 cfs (stable, August 31) — Late-season baseflow conditions; stable and unremarkable for this time of year.

Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (data from May 15) — This gauge reading is significantly out of date and should not be used for current operational planning. The absence of recent data is itself an indicator; contact IDWR or USGS for current status.

The dominant story in Bear River Basin streamflow is the rising signal at Pescadero (1,010 cfs), which stands in contrast to the modest upper-basin inflow at Border (61 cfs). The differential points to mid-basin storage releases as the primary driver — a late-season operational pattern consistent with managed reservoir drawdown to meet irrigation demand or delivery obligations.

Seasonal Guidance

Subscribe for the full brief including reservoir storage, weather forecasts, depletion analysis, and detailed operational recommendations.

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 30, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 31, 2026

Data Current As Of: Readings reflect the dates noted per station above. Agency contact: Idaho Department of Water Resources, Eastern Regional Office, Pocatello, (208) 525-7161, for Bear River basin counties.

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including your local water district, PacifiCorp/Bear River Commission (for Bear Lake storage operations), and local irrigation districts for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.