Box Elder County Water Intelligence Brief

Bear River Basin | September 14, 2026

Situation Summary

Bear River flows near Corinne are holding at 215 cfs (stable), providing a functional late-season baseline for canal company deliveries as irrigators in Box Elder County enter the final weeks of the irrigation season. Flows at Pescadero, ID remain elevated at 1,060 cfs and rising, reflecting upstream conditions that may offer some continuity of supply moving through the system. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations in the Bear River Basin are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of September 13, 2026 — a normal condition for this date, as median SWE values for mid-September are also effectively zero at these elevations.

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

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

| Bear River RS | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Emigrant Summit | 0.2" | 1.0" |

| Franklin Basin | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Garden City Summit | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Giveout | 0.4" | 0.0" |

| Slug Creek Divide | 0.0" | 1.0" |

| Tony Grove Lake | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| USU Doc Daniel | 0.0" | 0.0" |

Trace readings at Emigrant Summit (0.2" SWE, 1.0" depth) and Giveout (0.4" SWE) and residual depth at Slug Creek Divide (1.0" depth, 0.0" SWE) represent negligible moisture contributions. Background context: the 2026 season was defined by an anomalous March heat wave that caused basin-wide meltout 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — that early-season signal has already worked its way through the system and is reflected in current streamflow conditions.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River Basin gauges present a mixed but broadly stable picture for late-season deliveries.

Bear River Near Corinne, UT — 215 cfs (stable): This is the most directly relevant gauge for Box Elder County agricultural users. A stable reading at this point in mid-September indicates that canal company diversions along the lower Bear River are operating under consistent inflow conditions for now.

Bear River at Pescadero, ID — 1,060 cfs (rising): Elevated and rising flow at the Pescadero gauge is the most encouraging signal in the dataset. This upstream reading suggests near-term supply moving toward Utah remains relatively robust, though travel time and system losses mean Corinne flows will not mirror Pescadero conditions immediately.

Bear River at Border, WY — 51 cfs (rising): The rising trend at the uppermost gauge is a positive directional signal, though absolute volumes remain modest at the headwaters entry point.

Logan River Above State Dam, Near Logan, UT — 61 cfs (stable): Stable conditions on the Logan River provide context for Cache Valley tributary contributions entering the Bear River system.

Blacksmith Fork Above Upper and Lower Companies' Dam, Near Hyrum, UT — 48 cfs (stable): Stable flows on the Blacksmith Fork reflect consistent tributary input from the south.

Little Bear River at Paradise, UT — 23 cfs (falling): The falling trend here warrants monitoring, as continued decline on this tributary could reduce aggregate Bear River delivery volumes downstream.

Malad River Near Bear River City, UT — 6 cfs (data dated 05/15): The Malad River reading is significantly out of date and should not be used for current operational planning. Users dependent on Malad system deliveries should contact their canal company or the Utah Division of Water Rights directly for current conditions.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 13, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 14, 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.