Water Intelligence Brief

Cache County, UT

June 15, 2026

Cache County, UT — Water Intelligence Brief

June 15, 2026 | Bear River Basin | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Snowpack across Cache County's Bear River Basin monitoring network has fully melted out, with stations tracking 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date following an anomalous March heat wave. Streamflows on local tributaries including the Logan River and Little Bear River are falling, signaling the transition away from snowmelt-driven supply toward base-flow conditions earlier than typical in the season. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and operational recommendations are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations reporting for Cache County's Bear River Basin watershed show effectively zero snowpack as of June 14, 2026:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.1", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.3", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", Snow Depth 0.0"
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", Snow Depth 0.0"

    • The near-zero readings at this date are consistent with normal seasonal conditions for mid-June — the median SWE for these stations at this point in the calendar is also at or near zero. The critical signal is not today's SWE reading but rather meltout timing: these stations melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the snowmelt pulse that feeds early-season streamflow and reservoir storage has already run its course. No additional snowmelt-driven inflow should be expected from the local basin network.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Seven USGS gauges across the Bear River Basin provide current streamflow context for Cache County users as of June 15, 2026:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 156 cfs — falling
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,220 cfs — rising
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 498 cfs — rising
  • Blacksmith Fork ab Up and L Co.'s Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 60 cfs — stable
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 25 cfs — falling
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 206 cfs — falling
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs *(data as of 05/15)*

    • The two Cache County tributary gauges most directly relevant to local irrigators — the Logan River and the Little Bear River at Paradise — are both trending downward, consistent with the post-snowmelt transition to base-flow conditions. The Logan River at 206 cfs (falling) and the Little Bear River at 25 cfs (falling) reflect declining snowmelt contribution from the earlier-than-normal melt season.

    The Blacksmith Fork at 60 cfs (stable) offers a somewhat more stable picture for users in that sub-drainage, though stable at this date does not indicate high supply — it reflects the system settling into base-flow range.

    The Bear River at Pescadero, ID (1,220 cfs, rising) and Bear River near Corinne, UT (498 cfs, rising) show rising conditions on the mainstem Bear River, which may reflect upstream reservoir management operations or tributary contributions elsewhere in the broader basin — Cache County irrigators drawing from these reaches should monitor conditions closely as mainstem dynamics can shift quickly at this stage of the season.

    The Malad River near Bear River City reading of 6 cfs is dated May 15 and should be treated as stale — current conditions at this gauge are unknown from available data.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Utah Division of Water Rights (waterrights.utah.gov) to review your water right priority date and confirm your current legal standing as streamflows on local tributaries continue to fall.
  • Reach out to your local irrigation company or water district — including entities serving the Logan River, Little Bear River, and Blacksmith Fork systems — to confirm current delivery schedules and any announced allocation adjustments.
  • Check with Utah State University Extension, Cache County office for current crop and pasture water demand guidance relevant to dairy operations and alfalfa hay production as the season progresses into peak demand.
  • Monitor updates from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah Snow Survey office for any revised seasonal water supply forecasts as base-flow conditions develop across the Bear River Basin.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 14, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 15, 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.

    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.

    Previous Issues

    Cache County Brief — June 8, 2026Cache County Brief — June 1, 2026Cache County Brief — May 26, 2026Cache County Brief — May 15, 2026Cache County Brief — May 3, 2026Cache County Brief — April 24, 2026

    Additional Resources

    Cache Water District — conservation and outreach resources for Cache County farmers and irrigators

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