Box Elder County Water Intelligence Brief

August 3, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Bear River Basin snowpack has completed its seasonal melt, with all SNOTEL stations now reading at expected late-summer baseline conditions following an anomalously early meltout that ran 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Streamflows across the basin are trending downward, reflecting the transition to late-season conditions driven by reduced mountain runoff contribution. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations monitoring the Bear River Basin headwaters are reporting conditions consistent with normal late-summer melt completion. Snow water equivalent (SWE) readings as of August 2 are as follows:

The median SWE for this date at each of these stations is also 0.0", meaning the basin is at its normal seasonal condition for early August — not below normal on a current-date basis. The operationally significant story for 2026 is not today's snowpack reading but rather the timing: the basin melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. That early melt-driven pulse has already moved through the system, and no additional snowmelt contribution to streamflow should be anticipated for the remainder of the irrigation season.

Streamflow Conditions

Seven USGS gauges are active across the Bear River Basin. Readings as of August 3 reflect a basin in full late-season recession:

The Bear River near Corinne at 247 cfs is the most direct indicator for Box Elder County agricultural users and is trending downward. The Pescadero reading of 1,050 cfs represents upstream inflow from Idaho but is also falling. The Malad River near Bear River City reading of 6 cfs carries a data lag to mid-May and should be treated with caution — users dependent on Malad River contributions should seek current local confirmation. Most tributaries monitored in this network are in a falling trend, consistent with seasonal expectations following an early meltout year.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 2, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 3, 2026

Data Current As Of: Utah Division of Water Rights

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, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Utah Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.