Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

June 22, 2026

Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

June 22, 2026 | Bear River Basin & Tributaries

Situation Summary

Caribou County enters late June 2026 with snowpack effectively gone across all monitored SNOTEL stations, reflecting an extremely early meltout season — stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of historical median meltout dates following an anomalous March heat wave. Streamflow patterns are mixed, with the Bear River at Pescadero running notably high while upper and lower Bear River gauges show falling conditions, suggesting active system management and storage operations are influencing local delivery conditions. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion trajectory analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving Caribou County's watersheds are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent as of June 21, 2026 — a condition that reflects the early-melt character of the 2026 season rather than an anomalous single-day reading.

Station Readings:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.1", Depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.6", Depth 2.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.4", Depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", Depth 1.0"
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", Depth 3.0"

    • The near-universal 0.0" SWE readings are consistent with the normal seasonal condition for late June — at this point on the calendar, median SWE is also 0.0" at most stations, meaning the snowpack is not below normal *today* but melted out significantly earlier than the historical median meltout date. Franklin Basin is the sole station carrying any meaningful remaining SWE at 0.6", with 2.0" of snow depth still present. Giveout shows 0.4" SWE with no measurable depth recorded. Tony Grove Lake and USU Doc Daniel report residual snow depth (1.0" and 3.0", respectively) despite 0.0" SWE — indicating very dense or crusted late-season snowpack remnants with minimal free water content remaining.

    The practical implication: snowmelt-driven inflow to Bear River basin streams, reservoirs, and the Blackfoot system has largely concluded. Any additional inflow for the remainder of the season will depend on summer precipitation events rather than snowpack release.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Ten USGS gauges across Caribou County's four watersheds provide a complex and varied picture of current conditions.

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 134 cfs, falling (06/22). Upper Bear River inflow to the system is moderate and declining, consistent with post-snowmelt recession.
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,550 cfs, rising (06/22). This is the dominant in-county flow indicator and shows substantially higher flows than the border gauge — a divergence that reflects reservoir operations, tributary inflows, and system management between the Wyoming border and the Pescadero measurement point.
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 222 cfs, falling (06/22). Lower Bear River at the Utah terminus is falling and substantially lower than Pescadero, indicating significant diversions and consumptive use along the system.
  • Blacksmith Fork ab Up and L Co.'s Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 60 cfs, stable (06/22).
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 18 cfs, falling (06/22).
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 178 cfs, falling (06/21). Falling conditions on the Logan River indicate the peak of snowmelt-driven runoff has passed on this tributary system.
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (data as of 05/15). This reading is six weeks old and should be treated with caution — current conditions are unknown from this gauge.

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 43 cfs, stable (06/22). The Blackfoot system is running at a low but stable rate, suggesting inflow to Blackfoot Reservoir is modest at this point in the season.

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 42 cfs, stable (06/22). Stable, low-flow conditions on the Portneuf are consistent with post-snowmelt baseflow.

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 381 cfs, stable (06/22). The Salt River is carrying the highest flows of the tributary systems monitored, running stable — conditions that may support storage in upstream reservoirs serving the broader region.

    • The standout feature is the large disparity between the Bear River at Border (134 cfs, falling) and Bear River at Pescadero (1,550 cfs, rising). Agricultural users dependent on Bear River deliveries through the Pescadero reach should note that this elevated and rising condition may reflect managed releases rather than natural runoff — and conditions can shift with reservoir operational decisions.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office (Pocatello, (208) 525-7161) to check on current Bear River basin water rights administration and any active curtailment notices affecting Caribou County water users.
  • Check with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region (Boise office) for current Blackfoot Reservoir operational status and storage outlook relevant to Blackfoot River basin irrigators.
  • Contact the Bear River Commission and PacifiCorp's Bear Lake operations team for current Bear Lake storage conditions, which govern multi-season supply for Bear River system users.
  • Review current delivery schedules directly with your local irrigation district or canal company to confirm remaining season allocation, as post-snowmelt baseflow recession increases the likelihood of delivery adjustments through July and August.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 21, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 22, 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.

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    Caribou County Brief — August 3, 2026Caribou County Brief — July 27, 2026Caribou County Brief — July 20, 2026Caribou County Brief — July 13, 2026Caribou County Brief — July 6, 2026Caribou County Brief — June 29, 2026Caribou County Brief — June 15, 2026Caribou County Brief — June 8, 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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