Cache County Water Intelligence Brief

June 8, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Snowpack across Cache County's Bear River Basin tributary headwaters has fully melted out, with SNOTEL stations recording 0.0" SWE — consistent with normal late-season conditions for this calendar date, but notably arriving 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date due to the anomalous March heat wave. Streamflows on local tributaries including the Logan River and Little Bear River are falling, signaling the transition from runoff-driven supply to base-flow conditions earlier than typical for early June. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations monitoring Cache County and adjacent Bear River Basin headwaters are reporting at or near zero snowpack as of June 7, 2026:

For Tony Grove Lake and USU Doc Daniel, percent-of-median figures are provided: both sit at 0% of their respective medians. These two stations indicate below-normal residual snowpack relative to what would historically remain at this date. The remaining stations show 0.0" SWE with no percent-of-median shown, meaning the median SWE for those stations on this date is also effectively 0.0" — placing them at normal seasonal condition for the calendar date. The critical signal across the network is timing: meltout occurred 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the seasonal snowmelt pulse to streams ran earlier and shorter than typical. No meaningful additional snowmelt contribution to streamflow should be expected at this point in the season.

Streamflow Conditions

USGS gauge readings as of June 8, 2026 reflect a basin in active transition from snowmelt-driven to base-flow conditions across most local tributaries:

The Logan River at 274 cfs falling and the Little Bear River at 27 cfs falling are the most direct indicators for Cache County local tributary supply. Blacksmith Fork at 64 cfs holding stable is a modestly encouraging signal for Hyrum-area users. The Bear River near Corinne at 310 cfs falling reflects mainstem conditions downstream of Cache Valley. The Bear River at Pescadero, ID reading of 1,100 cfs rising is notably higher and may reflect reservoir operations or upstream tributary contributions — users relying on Bear River Commission allocations should monitor this gauge alongside local readings. The Malad River near Bear River City reading of 6 cfs is dated to May 15 and should not be treated as current. Falling trends on local tributaries are consistent with early meltout and the shift toward base-flow season ahead of the typical schedule.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 7, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 8, 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.