Box Elder County, UT — Water Intelligence Brief

June 22, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Snowpack across the Bear River Basin feeding Box Elder County has fully melted out, with SNOTEL stations recording 0.0" SWE at nearly all monitoring sites — a condition that arrived 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date due to an anomalous March heat wave. Streamflows on the Bear River system reflect this early-season transition, with mainstem flows at Corinne falling and tributary systems running below typical mid-June levels. 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 show snowpack has effectively gone to zero as of June 21, 2026:

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

|---|---|---|

| Bear River RS | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Emigrant Summit | 0.1" | 0.0" |

| Franklin Basin | 0.6" | 2.0" |

| Garden City Summit | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Giveout | 0.4" | 0.0" |

| Slug Creek Divide | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Tony Grove Lake | 0.0" | 1.0" |

| USU Doc Daniel | 0.0" | 3.0" |

Six of eight stations report 0.0" SWE, which is the normal seasonal condition for late June — the median SWE for this date is also 0.0" at these sites, so this does not represent a below-normal snowpack reading for today's calendar date. The meaningful signal is the *timing*: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of their historical median meltout dates, meaning the spring pulse of snowmelt runoff entered the system significantly earlier than usual and is now largely complete.

Franklin Basin remains the lone station with measurable SWE at 0.6" and 2.0" of snow depth, suggesting a small amount of residual pack at that higher-elevation site. Giveout (0.4" SWE) and Tony Grove Lake (0.0" SWE but 1.0" depth) and USU Doc Daniel (0.0" SWE, 3.0" depth) show residual depth measurements that likely reflect compacted, heavily melted material rather than water-laden snowpack. No meaningful additional snowmelt contribution to streamflow should be expected from these remnant conditions.

Streamflow Conditions

Seven USGS gauges provide coverage of Bear River Basin flows relevant to Box Elder County as of June 22, 2026:

Bear River at Border, WY: 134 cfs, falling. This upper-basin entry point into the Bear River system reflects already-declining runoff from Wyoming headwaters, consistent with the early meltout timeline.

Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,550 cfs, rising. This gauge captures flows through the Bear Lake reach of the system, where storage operations and releases from the Bear Lake / PacifiCorp system can significantly influence flows independent of natural runoff. The rising trend here warrants monitoring, as it may reflect managed releases rather than natural snowmelt contribution.

Bear River near Corinne, UT: 222 cfs, falling. This is the most directly relevant gauge for lower Bear River agricultural users in Box Elder County. At 222 cfs and falling, flows are declining as the natural snowmelt pulse winds down. Box Elder County irrigators — particularly those served by Bear River Canal Company and other direct-diversion canal companies — should take note of the downward trend.

Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Canal Co.'s Dam near Hyrum, UT: 60 cfs, stable. While this gauge is upstream in the Cache County system, it provides context for tributary conditions feeding the lower Bear River system.

Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 18 cfs, falling. Another tributary indicator showing declining flows consistent with basin-wide post-peak conditions.

Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 178 cfs, falling (as of June 21). Logan River flows are declining, adding to the picture of a basin moving past peak runoff season earlier than historical norms.

Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (most recent reading May 15). This gauge serves the lower Bear River corridor near Bear River City in Box Elder County. The May 15 reading date represents a significant data gap — current conditions at this gauge are unknown and users relying on Malad River flows should contact USGS or their local water district for the most recent information.

The overall streamflow picture for Box Elder County shows a basin in post-peak decline. The Bear River near Corinne at 222 cfs and falling is the number to watch for direct-diversion irrigators. With snowpack contribution essentially exhausted, flows going forward will depend on managed reservoir releases — particularly from Bear Lake (PacifiCorp / Bear River Commission) and Cutler Reservoir — rather than natural runoff.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 21, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 22, 2026

Data Current As Of: June 22, 2026 | 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, Bear River Canal Company, PacifiCorp Bear River System, and Utah Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.