Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Box Elder County, UT

August 24, 2026

Box Elder County Water Intelligence Brief

August 24, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Box Elder County enters the final stretch of the 2026 irrigation season with snowpack fully melted across all monitored SNOTEL stations — a condition that arrived 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date due to an anomalous March heat wave. Bear River streamflows are falling at key downstream gauges, signaling tightening late-season supply for canal company diversions and direct-flow irrigators. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations in the Bear River Basin reporting for Box Elder County show effectively zero snowpack as of August 23, 2026. This is normal for this calendar date — median SWE at these stations is also 0.0" in late August — and does not indicate a below-normal condition relative to today's expected values. The water supply implication, however, is the season-long one: the 2026 snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, meaning the pulse of snowmelt runoff that recharges streamflows, fills storage, and sustains late-season river flows arrived and passed well before typical. No additional snowmelt contribution to Bear River flows is expected for the remainder of the irrigation season.

Station readings as of August 23, 2026:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.2", Depth 1.0" *(only station with any remaining snow)*
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.4", Depth 0.0" *(trace SWE reported; depth reads zero)*
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"

    • Emigrant Summit and Giveout show trace moisture values but no meaningful snow depth. These readings do not represent a usable water supply contribution. The basin is in full post-snowmelt baseflow mode.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Bear River flows at gauges serving or influencing Box Elder County show a mixed but generally declining picture as of August 24, 2026.

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 58 cfs, falling. This upper-basin entry point reflects limited late-season inflow from Wyoming tributaries.
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 883 cfs, stable. This mid-basin gauge captures flow after Idaho storage operations and tributary contributions; its stability suggests managed releases are buffering natural flow decline at this point in the system.
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 200 cfs, falling. This is the most directly relevant gauge for Box Elder County agricultural users. At 200 cfs and falling, flows are declining heading into the final weeks of the irrigation season. Canal company diversions along the lower Bear River are operating against a shrinking supply.
  • Blacksmith Fork ab Up and L Co.'s Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 50 cfs, stable. A Cache County tributary feeding the lower Bear River system; stable flow provides some modest contribution.
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 16 cfs, falling (as of August 23). Another Cache County tributary; low and declining.
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 66 cfs, falling (as of August 22). Declining tributary contribution to the lower Bear River mainstem.
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (data as of May 15). Current flow status at this gauge is not current — the May 15 reading should not be used for operational planning. Users should contact the Utah Division of Water Rights or the Bear River Canal Company for current Malad River conditions near the confluence.

    • The overall streamflow picture for Box Elder County is one of late-season decline. The Corinne gauge at 200 cfs and falling is the headline number for lower Bear River irrigators. With no snowmelt remaining and tributary flows also declining, the trajectory through September will depend on upstream storage releases and any late-season precipitation.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Bear River Canal Company directly to confirm current diversion schedules and any planned reductions in delivery for the remainder of the irrigation season.
  • Check with the Utah Division of Water Rights (waterrights.utah.gov) for any active curtailment orders or priority administration notices affecting Bear River water rights in Box Elder County.
  • Monitor the USGS National Water Information System (waterdata.usgs.gov) for updated flow readings at the Bear River near Corinne gauge, particularly as the Malad River near Bear River City data gap remains unresolved.
  • Contact the Bear River Commission for current operational status of Bear River system storage and any interstate compact administration actions affecting late-season delivery reliability.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 23, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 24, 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, Bear River Canal Company, Bear River Commission, and Utah Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions and water rights administration. Streamflow conditions can change rapidly — verify gauge data directly at waterdata.usgs.gov before making operational decisions.

    Data & Disclaimers

    Sources: NRCS SNOTEL network · USGS National Water Information System · National Weather Service

    This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Consult official sources including your local water district and state Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions. This document does not constitute legal, regulatory, or engineering advice.

    Other Issues

    Box Elder County Brief — September 21, 2026Box Elder County Brief — September 14, 2026Box Elder County Brief — September 7, 2026Box Elder County Brief — August 31, 2026Box Elder County Brief — August 17, 2026Box Elder County Brief — August 10, 2026Box Elder County Brief — August 3, 2026Box Elder County Brief — July 27, 2026Box Elder County Brief — July 20, 2026Box Elder County Brief — July 13, 2026Box Elder County Brief — July 6, 2026Box Elder County Brief — June 29, 2026Box Elder County Brief — June 22, 2026Box Elder County Brief — June 15, 2026Box Elder County Brief — June 8, 2026Box Elder County Brief — June 1, 2026Box Elder County Brief — May 26, 2026Box Elder County Brief — May 15, 2026Box Elder County Brief — April 26, 2026

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    Box Elder County UT Water Report — August 24, 2026 | Wai AI