Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

June 8, 2026

Caribou County Water Intelligence Brief

June 8, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Snowpack across the Bear River, Blackfoot, Portneuf, and Salt River basins serving Caribou County has fully melted, with SNOTEL stations recording the seasonal meltout 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — reflecting the anomalous early-melt conditions that characterized the 2026 water year across the Mountain West. Streamflows across all four basins are predominantly falling, signaling that the snowmelt pulse has passed and base-flow conditions are taking hold for the summer irrigation season. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion rate analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations reporting for Caribou County's watersheds show snowpack has effectively concluded for the 2026 season:

  • Bear River RS (Bear River Basin): SWE 0.0", depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit (Bear River Basin): SWE 0.1", depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin (Bear River Basin): SWE 0.0", depth 0.0"
  • Garden City Summit (Bear River Basin): SWE 0.0", depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.2", depth 1.0" — the only station showing any measurable snow-water equivalent in the network
  • Slug Creek Divide (Bear River Basin): SWE 0.0", depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0" (0% of 0.4" median) — below the station's June median, indicating slightly earlier meltout than the long-term norm at this location
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0" (0% of 5.8" median) — below the station's June median, similarly reflecting earlier-than-normal meltout timing at this elevation

    • For stations showing 0.0" SWE with no percent-of-median figure, the June median for those stations is also 0.0", meaning current conditions are at normal seasonal levels for this calendar date. The key 2026 signal is not today's readings but meltout timing: snowpack across this network melted out 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, advancing the transition to reservoir- and groundwater-dependent supply earlier in the season than managers typically plan for.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Ten USGS gauges across Caribou County's four basins show a mixed but predominantly declining flow picture as of June 8:

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 216 cfs, falling
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,100 cfs, rising — the single gauge in the network showing rising conditions, suggesting local inflow or storage release influence on this reach
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 310 cfs, falling
  • Blacksmith Fork ab Up and L Co.'s Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 64 cfs, stable
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 27 cfs, falling
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 274 cfs, falling
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (most recent reading May 15 — data gap noted)

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 68 cfs, falling

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 47 cfs, falling

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 435 cfs, falling

    • The dominant pattern across all basins is falling streamflow, consistent with post-melt base-flow transition. The Pescadero gauge's rising trend warrants monitoring by irrigators drawing from that Bear River reach. The Malad River reading dates to May 15 and should not be treated as current.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello ((208) 525-7161) to confirm current water right call status and any administrative actions on the Bear River, Blackfoot, or Portneuf systems entering the peak irrigation season.
  • Check current operational status for Blackfoot Reservoir with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and for Bear Lake storage with PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission, as these are the primary storage facilities serving Caribou County irrigators.
  • Contact your local irrigation district or canal company to verify delivery schedules and any announced reductions in available water for the remainder of the 2026 season.
  • Monitor updated seasonal supply outlooks from the NRCS Idaho Snow Survey office as basin runoff forecasts are revised through June and July.

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

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

    Data Current As Of: Idaho Department of Water Resources (Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello, (208) 525-7161, for Bear River basin counties)

    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 (for Blackfoot Reservoir), and PacifiCorp/Bear River Commission (for Bear Lake storage) 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

    Caribou County Brief — June 15, 2026Caribou County Brief — June 1, 2026Caribou County Brief — May 26, 2026Caribou County Brief — May 15, 2026Caribou County Brief — April 21, 2026

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