Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

June 29, 2026

Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

June 29, 2026 | Free Tier

Situation Summary

Across Caribou County's four watersheds, the 2026 water season is defined by early snowpack meltout rather than by historically low snowpack volumes — SNOTEL stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the runoff window and shifting irrigation supply reliance to reservoir storage and baseflows earlier than typical. Streamflow on the Bear River system shows strong mainstem flows at Pescadero, though tributary and downstream gauges reflect the transition to late-season conditions. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion rate analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving Caribou County's watersheds are at or near zero snow water equivalent as of June 28, 2026 — consistent with the advanced meltout timing that characterized the 2026 season.

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 1.0" *(the only station with measurable SWE remaining)*
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.3", Depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", Depth N/A
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", Depth 3.0" *(residual snow depth with no measurable SWE)*

    • For the stations reading 0.0" SWE at this point in the calendar, this reflects normal end-of-season conditions for late June — the median SWE for these stations is also 0.0" by this date. The meaningful 2026 signal is not today's reading but the timing: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, meaning snowmelt-driven runoff contributions to Bear River, Blackfoot River, Portneuf River, and Salt River basin streamflows concluded well ahead of schedule. Franklin Basin's 0.6" SWE and 1.0" snow depth represent a minor residual that will contribute negligible additional runoff. The USU Doc Daniel reading of 3.0" depth with 0.0" SWE reflects wet, dense residual snow in transition — no meaningful SWE contribution should be expected. Active snowmelt is effectively complete across all monitored elevations in the county.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Streamflow across Caribou County's four watersheds shows a mixed picture, with the Bear River mainstem carrying robust flows at the Pescadero gauge while tributaries and downstream stations reflect the post-peak seasonal transition.

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 138 cfs (stable) — Upper Bear River inflow to the basin is modest and stable, consistent with post-runoff baseflow conditions.
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,520 cfs (stable) — The primary mainstem gauge in the county shows strong flows, likely reflecting reservoir releases and cumulative tributary contributions above this point.
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 492 cfs (rising) — Downstream of the county, the rising trend at Corinne warrants monitoring as it may indicate changing operational releases from Bear Lake or other upstream storage.
  • Blacksmith Fork ab Upper and Lower Canal Company's Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 59 cfs (stable)
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 21 cfs (stable)
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 153 cfs (stable)
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs *(data as of 05/15 — this reading is 6 weeks old and should be treated as stale; current conditions unknown)*

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 53 cfs (rising) — The rising trend above Blackfoot Reservoir is a notable signal and may reflect changing inflow conditions into that storage facility. Users dependent on Blackfoot Reservoir operations should monitor this trend.

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 43 cfs (stable) — Flows are modest and stable, consistent with seasonal expectations following early meltout.

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 399 cfs (stable) — Stable inflows to the Salt River system.

    • The Malad River data gap (last reading May 15) represents a meaningful monitoring blind spot for lower Bear River tributary conditions. Users relying on that reach should contact USGS or IDWR for current status. The 1,520 cfs reading at Pescadero is the dominant flow signal for Caribou County agricultural water users on the Bear River system.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello at (208) 525-7161 to confirm current Bear River GWMA groundwater conditions and any active administrative orders affecting Bear River valley floor wells.
  • Check with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation regarding current Blackfoot Reservoir storage and operational status, given the rising inflow trend on the Blackfoot River above the reservoir.
  • Contact PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage status, which is the primary multi-year storage buffer for the Bear River system serving Caribou County.
  • Monitor USGS National Water Information System (waterdata.usgs.gov) for resumption of current data at the Malad River near Bear River City gauge, which has been offline since May 15.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 28, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 29, 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 — 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 22, 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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