Cache County Water Intelligence Brief

October 12, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Bear River basin streamflows are active and mixed this week, with the Logan River holding stable at 107 cfs, Blacksmith Fork stable at 49 cfs, and Little Bear River rising to 40 cfs — conditions that support continued late-season deliveries for dairy operations and alfalfa irrigators wrapping up the final cutting cycle. The Bear River near Corinne is running at 827 cfs and rising, reflecting basin-wide convergence of tributary and return flows through the lower system. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All SNOTEL stations in the Bear River Basin serving Cache County are reporting at or near baseline seasonal conditions for mid-October:

Stations showing 0.0" SWE with no percent-of-median figure reflect normal seasonal conditions for this calendar date — the median SWE for these stations in mid-October is also effectively zero, so no below-normal signal is indicated. Emigrant Summit's 0.1" SWE and shallow snow depths at Franklin Basin and Garden City Summit represent the first light accumulations of the season, not a meaningful supply signal yet. As background context, the 2026 snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date across the Bear River Basin, which shaped the summer supply trajectory. Snowpack season is now beginning its buildup phase; meaningful SWE accumulation at monitoring stations typically begins in November.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River Basin gauges present a varied but generally stable-to-rising picture across the network:

The Logan River at 107 cfs stable is the most directly relevant indicator for Cache Valley irrigators and canal companies drawing from the Logan system. Blacksmith Fork at 49 cfs stable supports Hyrum-area users. The rising signal on Little Bear River and at the Wyoming border suggests some upstream response, possibly to recent precipitation. The Bear River near Corinne at 827 cfs rising reflects cumulative tributary inputs and reservoir management through the lower basin — that elevated reading is a lower-system condition rather than an in-county supply figure. The Malad River reading of 6 cfs carries a May 15 timestamp and should not be treated as current.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through October 11, 2026; USGS streamflow data through October 12, 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.