Box Elder County Water Intelligence Brief

August 17, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Box Elder County enters the final stretch of the 2026 irrigation season with snowpack fully absent across the Bear River Basin — consistent with normal seasonal conditions for mid-August, though SNOTEL stations across the watershed melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date earlier this season. Bear River mainstem flows near Corinne remain in the mid-800s cfs range, providing continued but declining late-season supply for canal diversions. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations monitored in the Bear River Basin are reporting zero or near-zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of August 16, 2026 — a normal condition for this point in the calendar year, as the historical median SWE at these stations is also 0.0" in mid-August.

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

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

| Bear River RS | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Emigrant Summit | 0.2" | 0.0" |

| Franklin Basin | 0.0" | 1.0" |

| Garden City Summit | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Giveout | 0.3" | 0.0" |

| Slug Creek Divide | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Tony Grove Lake | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| USU Doc Daniel | 0.0" | 0.0" |

Trace readings at Emigrant Summit (0.2" SWE) and Giveout (0.3" SWE), along with a 1.0" snow depth reading at Franklin Basin, likely reflect isolated remnant patches or instrument artifacts rather than meaningful snowpack. No additional melt contribution to streamflow should be expected from these readings.

The critical seasonal context is timing, not current SWE: the 2026 snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date across the Bear River watershed. That early meltout drove the spring runoff pulse well ahead of schedule, meaning reservoir carryover capture opportunities and peak streamflow for the season have already passed. Late-season flows are now entirely dependent on baseflow conditions and any upstream storage releases — not on additional snowmelt.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River Basin streamflows present a mixed but generally functional picture for late-season irrigation, with the mainstem near Corinne providing the most operationally relevant signal for Box Elder County agricultural users.

Bear River Near Corinne, UT — 824 cfs (rising) as of August 17. This is the primary supply indicator for lower Bear River canal diversions in Box Elder County, including Bear River Canal Company operations. A rising signal at Corinne in mid-August warrants attention — users should monitor whether this reflects a short-term operational pulse or a sustained trend.

Bear River at Pescadero, ID — 805 cfs (falling) as of August 17. This upstream gauge provides advance indication of what is moving toward Utah. The falling trend upstream, combined with a rising trend at Corinne, suggests the two signals may be temporarily out of phase — possibly reflecting travel time or local tributary contributions between the two gauges.

Bear River at Border, WY — 67 cfs (rising) as of August 17. Upper watershed contributions remain modest, consistent with post-snowmelt baseflow conditions.

Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Canal Companies' Dam near Hyrum, UT — 51 cfs (stable) as of August 16. Stable late-season flow on this tributary; relevant for Cache County users upstream but provides context for the broader Bear River tributary system.

Little Bear River at Paradise, UT — 18 cfs (stable) as of August 17. Low but stable; consistent with expected late-season baseflow.

Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT — 66 cfs (stable) as of August 16. Stable conditions on this Cache Valley tributary.

Malad River near Bear River City, UT — 6 cfs; note that this reading is dated May 15 and does not reflect current conditions. This gauge should not be used for current operational decisions without updated data.

Overall, the Bear River mainstem near Corinne at 824 cfs provides workable late-season supply, but the diverging trend signals between Pescadero and Corinne merit close daily monitoring as irrigation demand remains active through the end of August.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 16, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 17, 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.