Water Intelligence Brief

Box Elder County, UT — Bear River Basin

*August 31, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition*

Situation Summary

Bear River flows near Corinne are rising at 287 cfs, and deliveries through the lower Bear River canal network are active as irrigators push through the final weeks of the late-season irrigation window. Supply conditions across the basin reflect a transition point: snowpack-driven recharge is exhausted and late-summer streamflow is carrying the full load for remaining row crop, alfalfa, and orchard water needs in the Tremonton and Bear River Valley areas. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All SNOTEL stations serving the Bear River Basin are at or near their normal end-of-summer condition for this date. No actionable snowpack-derived supply remains.

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

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

| Bear River RS | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Emigrant Summit | 0.1" | 1.0" |

| Franklin Basin | 0.0" | 1.0" |

| Garden City Summit | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Giveout | 0.2" | 0.0" |

| Slug Creek Divide | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Tony Grove Lake | 0.0" | 2.0" |

| USU Doc Daniel | 0.0" | 0.0" |

No station reports a percent-of-median figure, meaning the median SWE for this date is also 0.0" — stations are at their normal seasonal condition for late August, not below normal. The relevant 2026 snowpack signal is timing: stations melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the seasonal runoff pulse concluded earlier than normal and the basin has been operating on residual and regulated flows since early summer.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River flows show a mixed but generally active picture across the basin as of August 31.

Bear River at Border, WY is running at 61 cfs and holding stable — this upper-system reading reflects the volume entering the basin from Wyoming before significant tributary and reservoir contributions occur downstream.

Bear River at Pescadero, ID is the most notable reading in the dataset at 1,010 cfs and rising. This gauge captures Bear River flows in southern Idaho after significant tributary and storage contributions, and the rising trend warrants monitoring for downstream delivery implications.

Bear River near Corinne, UT — the primary in-county delivery indicator for Box Elder agricultural users — is at 287 cfs and rising. This is the gauge most directly relevant to Bear River Canal Company diversions and lower Bear River irrigators. A rising trend at this point in the season is operationally meaningful for users still drawing late-season supplies.

Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Companies' Dam near Hyrum, UT is at 51 cfs and stable, reflecting steady late-season tributary conditions on this Cache County tributary feeding into the lower Bear River system.

Little Bear River at Paradise, UT reads 24 cfs and rising — a small but notable late-season rise on this tributary system.

Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT is holding at 71 cfs and stable, indicating consistent late-season baseflow on the Logan River system.

Malad River near Bear River City, UT shows 6 cfs as of the most recent reading (May 15) — this gauge's data lag means current conditions on the Malad are not reflected in this brief. Users relying on Malad River diversions should contact their water district directly for current conditions.

Overall, the rising trend at Pescadero and Corinne is the headline: late-season flows in the lower Bear River corridor are not in sharp decline as of this reading, which provides near-term supply continuity for active irrigators.

Seasonal Guidance

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