Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Across Caribou County's four watersheds, snowpack has melted out fully for the season, with the anomalous March 2026 heat wave driving meltout 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — compressing the spring runoff window and accelerating the shift to late-season baseflow conditions. Streamflows across the Bear River, Blackfoot River, Portneuf River, and Salt River basins are now in active seasonal decline, with most gauges trending falling as the region enters peak irrigation demand. Reservoir storage data for Blackfoot Reservoir, Bear Lake, Palisades, Grace, and Soda Reservoir — along with 7-day forecast details — are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving Caribou County's watersheds are reporting fully melted snowpack as of July 5, 2026. The seasonal snow water equivalent (SWE) contribution to streamflow is effectively zero across all monitored elevations.

Station readings are as follows:

The small residual SWE readings at Emigrant Summit (0.2") and Franklin Basin and Giveout (0.5" each) are trace amounts consistent with late remnant patches rather than meaningful storage. USU Doc Daniel reports 3.0" snow depth with 0.0" SWE, indicating either heavily settled or ice-layer conditions with negligible liquid water content. No percent-of-median figures are reported for any of these stations, which reflects that the normal median SWE for early July is also at or near 0.0" — these stations are at their expected seasonal condition for this calendar date. The critical story for 2026 is not the current readings, but the timing: snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the runoff pulse that typically carries Bear River basin flows through late June and into July arrived and passed substantially earlier this season.

Streamflow Conditions

Ten USGS gauges across Caribou County's four watersheds report current streamflow as of July 6, 2026. The overall picture is one of active seasonal recession, with the majority of gauges trending falling.

Bear River Basin:

The Bear River mainstem shows a notable divergence: the upstream Border, WY gauge (113 cfs, falling) and the Pescadero, ID gauge (1,340 cfs, falling) reflect reservoir management and tributary contributions through the upper system, while the downstream Corinne, UT gauge (563 cfs, rising) suggests either reservoir release timing or lag effects through the lower system. The Malad River near Bear River City carries a May 15 observation date — current conditions at that gauge are unconfirmed and should not be relied upon for planning purposes without direct verification.

Blackfoot River Basin:

Inflows to Blackfoot Reservoir are in active decline, consistent with post-snowmelt seasonal recession and the early meltout timing this year.

Portneuf River Basin:

The Portneuf is holding steady, though at a flow level reflecting typical summer baseflow conditions.

Salt River Basin:

Salt River inflows are stable, providing the strongest current flow signal of the four basins monitored.

With snowpack contribution exhausted, streamflow in all basins will be increasingly dependent on baseflow, reservoir operations, and any precipitation events through the remainder of the irrigation season.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 5, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 6, 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.