Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Cache County, UT

July 13, 2026

Cache County Water Intelligence Brief

July 13, 2026 | Bear River Basin | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Cache County's Bear River Basin enters mid-July with snowpack fully melted out across all monitored SNOTEL stations — stations that historically hold snow into late June melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date due to an anomalous March heat wave. Streamflows across the Logan River, Little Bear River, and Blacksmith Fork are running in a stable-to-falling pattern consistent with a system now dependent on baseflow rather than active snowmelt. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and operational recommendations for Hyrum, Porcupine, Newton, and Cutler reservoirs are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving the Bear River Basin in Cache County's contributing terrain are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of July 12, 2026 — a normal condition for this calendar date, as the historical median SWE is also 0.0" at this point in the season. The significant story is not current SWE but meltout timing: these stations melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the seasonal snowmelt pulse that recharges streams and reservoirs arrived substantially earlier than normal this year.

Station-by-station readings:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.2", snow depth 0.0" — the only station still reporting a trace of SWE
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.6", snow depth 1.0" — the highest remaining SWE in the network; a small residual pack persists at this elevation
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE not available, snow depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", snow depth 1.0" — shallow remnant depth with no measurable water content
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", snow depth 2.0" — shallow late-season depth with no measurable water content
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", snow depth 3.0" — deepest reported snow depth in the network but zero SWE, indicating dense, saturated, or shaded remnant pack contributing no meaningful melt

    • Franklin Basin's 0.6" SWE is the only station still providing any residual snowmelt contribution to the system. All other stations are effectively finished contributing to streamflow through snowmelt. The system has transitioned to summer baseflow conditions.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Streamflows across the Bear River Basin in Cache County reflect an early-melt year in mid-summer baseflow mode. The majority of gauges are stable or falling, with no active snowmelt supplementing flows.

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 81 cfs, falling — upper Bear River inflow to the basin is declining, signaling reduced upstream contribution
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,270 cfs, stable — the largest volume in the network; this mid-basin reading reflects reservoir regulation effects and broader Bear River system storage releases upstream
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 185 cfs, falling — lower Bear River mainstem is declining as it approaches the Great Salt Lake, downstream of Cache County diversions
  • Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Canal Company's Dam near Hyrum, UT: 54 cfs, stable — Blacksmith Fork is holding steady; this gauge serves as a key indicator for irrigators in the Hyrum area and Blacksmith Fork watershed
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 15 cfs, stable — relatively low volume but stable; Little Bear River is a critical supply source for southern Cache Valley agricultural users
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 92 cfs, falling — Logan River is declining from its earlier seasonal peak; this gauge directly reflects conditions for Logan City water users and upper Cache Valley irrigators
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs — this reading is dated May 15 and should be treated as stale; current conditions are not reflected in this gauge and users near the Malad River system should contact their water district for current flow status

    • The falling trend on the Logan River and Bear River mainstem is consistent with the loss of snowmelt input and the normal transition to late-season baseflow. Dairy operations and alfalfa irrigators dependent on Logan River and Little Bear River deliveries should monitor canal company communications closely as flows continue to recede.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact Utah Division of Water Rights (waterrights.utah.gov) to verify your water right priority status and confirm any active curtailment notices affecting Cache Valley surface water diversions.
  • Reach out to your local canal company or irrigation district — including Logan, Hyde Park, Smithfield, and Richmond area ditch companies — to confirm current delivery schedules and any anticipated reductions as Logan River and Little Bear River flows continue declining.
  • Monitor Cache County NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service, Logan Field Office) for updated soil moisture and evapotranspiration data relevant to alfalfa cutting schedules and dairy forage planning.
  • Contact Utah Division of Water Resources for current storage status at Hyrum, Porcupine, Newton, and Cutler reservoirs, as reservoir carryover storage now represents the primary supply buffer for late-season irrigation demand.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 12, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 13, 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.

    Other Issues

    Cache County Brief — August 3, 2026Cache County Brief — July 27, 2026Cache County Brief — July 20, 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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    Cache County UT Water Report — July 13, 2026 | Wai AI