Water Intelligence Brief

Cache County, UT

October 26, 2026

Cache County Water Intelligence Brief

October 26, 2026 | Bear River Basin | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Bear River Basin streamflows are rising across most monitored gauges this week, with the Bear River near Corinne registering 883 cfs and the Logan River above State Dam at 92 cfs — conditions consistent with late-October baseflow and early-season precipitation inputs. With the 2026 irrigation season effectively concluded for most Cache County dairy and alfalfa operations, current flows reflect off-season system recovery rather than active delivery demand. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Mountain snowpack across the Bear River Basin is in its earliest accumulation phase, and current readings are consistent with normal late-October conditions — stations showing 0.0" SWE carry no percent-of-median flag because the historical median for this date is also 0.0". No below-normal language is warranted for those stations.

Station Readings (October 25, 2026):

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.1", Depth 1.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.1", Depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", Depth 2.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.0", Depth 1.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: Data collection issues — no reading available
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0" (0% of 0.9" median), Depth 0.0"

    • USU Doc Daniel is the one station showing a percent-of-median figure — 0% of a 0.9" median — indicating it is running below the historical norm for this specific date. All other stations at 0.0" SWE are at normal seasonal condition. Background context: the 2026 season was characterized by a March heat wave that drove mountain snowpack to melt out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — a factor that shaped summer supply but is no longer the active story as the basin resets for the 2026–2027 accumulation season.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Streamflows are broadly rising across Bear River Basin gauges, reflecting late-October precipitation inputs and seasonal baseflow patterns. No gauge is currently flagged as critically low.

    Gauge Readings (October 26, 2026):

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 78 cfs — rising
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 37 cfs — rising
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 883 cfs — rising
  • Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Canal Company's Dam near Hyrum, UT: 52 cfs — stable
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 40 cfs — rising
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 92 cfs — rising
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (data dated 05/15 — reading is stale and should not be used for current operational decisions)

    • The rising trend across the Bear River mainstem from the Wyoming border through Corinne reflects the integrated basin response to recent weather. The Blacksmith Fork at Hyrum is holding stable at 52 cfs. The Malad River near Bear River City reading of 6 cfs carries a May 15 timestamp and is not current — users requiring Malad River data should contact USGS directly.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Utah Division of Water Rights (waterrights.utah.gov) to review your water right status and confirm any carry-over obligations before the 2027 irrigation season opens.
  • Reach out to your local canal company or irrigation district to confirm end-of-season delivery accounting and any scheduled infrastructure maintenance windows over the fall and winter.
  • Monitor NRCS Utah Snow Survey (nrcs.usda.gov/utah) for the first Basin Outlook Report of the season, typically released in early November, which will establish the initial 2026–2027 snowpack trajectory for the Bear River Basin.
  • Contact Cache County USU Extension (extension.usu.edu/cache) for fall and winter agricultural water management resources relevant to dairy operations and alfalfa ground preparation.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through October 25, 2026; USGS streamflow data through October 26, 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 — October 19, 2026Cache County Brief — October 12, 2026Cache County Brief — October 5, 2026Cache County Brief — September 28, 2026Cache County Brief — September 21, 2026Cache County Brief — September 14, 2026Cache County Brief — September 7, 2026Cache County Brief — August 31, 2026Cache County Brief — August 24, 2026Cache County Brief — August 17, 2026Cache County Brief — August 10, 2026Cache County Brief — August 3, 2026Cache County Brief — July 27, 2026Cache County Brief — July 20, 2026Cache County Brief — July 13, 2026Cache County Brief — July 6, 2026Cache County Brief — June 29, 2026Cache County Brief — June 22, 2026Cache County Brief — June 15, 2026Cache 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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