Cache County Water Intelligence Brief

September 14, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Bear River Basin streamflows are showing a mixed late-season picture, with the Logan River, Blacksmith Fork, and Little Bear River holding at moderate levels that continue to support active irrigation deliveries, though Little Bear River is falling. Dairy operators and alfalfa producers in Cache Valley should expect continued delivery through the close of the irrigation season, but the falling trend on Little Bear River warrants close coordination with local water managers heading into the final weeks of demand. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations monitoring the Bear River Basin above Cache County are reporting at or near seasonal norms for mid-September. Seven of the eight stations report 0.0" snow water equivalent (SWE) and negligible snow depth, consistent with normal late-summer bare-ground conditions at this point in the calendar year.

Station readings as of September 13, 2026:

Emigrant Summit and Giveout show trace moisture and minor snow depth — consistent with early-season remnant conditions or isolated high-elevation weather events, not meaningful accumulated snowpack. No percent-of-median figures are reported for any station at this date, meaning the historical median SWE for mid-September is also 0.0" — these stations are at normal seasonal condition, not below normal.

As background context: the 2026 snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date across Bear River Basin stations, driven by an anomalous March heat wave. That earlier-than-normal meltout shaped the early-season runoff pulse and summer streamflow trajectory — but that event is now well in the past.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River Basin gauges present a varied picture across the watershed as of September 14, 2026.

Gauge readings:

The most operationally relevant readings for Cache County irrigators are the Logan River at 61 cfs (stable), Blacksmith Fork at 48 cfs (stable), and Little Bear River at 23 cfs (falling). Stable readings on the Logan and Blacksmith Fork indicate consistent supply conditions for users diverting from those systems through the remainder of the irrigation season. The falling trend on Little Bear River at Paradise is the primary near-term watch item for irrigators in the Paradise, Avon, and Wellsville areas — users in that corridor should monitor delivery conditions closely.

The Bear River at Pescadero, ID (1,060 cfs, rising) reflects upstream conditions in the Idaho reach and is an important indicator for downstream Bear River mainstem users near Corinne, where flows are currently stable at 215 cfs. The rising trend at both the Border, WY and Pescadero, ID gauges is a notable upstream signal — the cause is not specified in available data, but water managers monitoring the lower Bear River corridor should track whether that rising signal propagates downstream to the Corinne reach in coming days.

The Malad River near Bear River City reading (6 cfs) carries a data lag from May 15 and should not be used for current operational planning without verification against a more recent source.

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.