Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

July 13, 2026

Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

July 13, 2026 | Bear River Basin, Blackfoot River Basin, Portneuf River Basin, Salt River Basin

Situation Summary

Across Caribou County's four watersheds, the 2026 irrigation season is operating without meaningful snowpack contribution — all monitored SNOTEL stations have reached or are near zero SWE, reflecting a meltout that ran 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Streamflows are largely in falling trends, indicating the county is now fully dependent on reservoir carryover storage and direct runoff rather than ongoing snowmelt inputs. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving Caribou County's watersheds have effectively completed their seasonal meltout as of July 12, 2026. The critical context for 2026 is timing: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the snowpack contribution to streamflow ended significantly earlier in the season than normal. This is not a reflection of below-normal conditions *today* — at this calendar date, near-zero SWE is expected — but rather a signal that the seasonal snowmelt pulse that typically sustains July streamflows was largely exhausted by late May or early June.

Station-by-station readings as of July 12:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.2", snow depth 0.0" — the only station showing any remaining SWE, though the negligible depth reading suggests this is residual rather than a meaningful supply
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.6", snow depth 1.0" — the highest SWE reading in the network; a small pocket of late-season snow persists, though contribution to streamflow will be minimal at this stage
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE not available, snow depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", snow depth 1.0" — residual depth with no measurable water content
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", snow depth 2.0" — depth present but zero SWE indicates consolidated, water-depleted snow or ice
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", snow depth 3.0" — same pattern; depth reading likely reflects compacted late-season remnant with no extractable water content

    • The practical implication: no meaningful new snowmelt water input should be anticipated from the mountain snowpack in Caribou County's watersheds through the remainder of the irrigation season. Summer precipitation and reservoir storage are the operative supply variables from this point forward.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Streamflow across Caribou County's four associated watersheds shows a predominantly falling pattern, consistent with the post-snowmelt transition to baseflow conditions. Ten USGS gauges provide coverage as of July 13, 2026:

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 81 cfs, falling — the upper Bear River entering Idaho is running at modest levels with a declining trend
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,270 cfs, stable — the most significant reading in the network; flows at this mid-system point reflect reservoir release management and are holding steady, suggesting active storage operations are supporting the channel
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 185 cfs, falling — lower Bear River flows are declining as the system moves through its post-snowmelt transition
  • Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Canal Company's Dam near Hyrum, UT: 54 cfs, stable — a tributary system holding relatively steady
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 15 cfs, stable — low but stable flows on this smaller tributary
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 92 cfs, falling — declining flows on this Bear River tributary
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs — the most recent reading is dated May 15; this data gap should be noted, and users should verify current Malad River conditions directly with USGS or the relevant water district

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 34 cfs, falling — inflows to Blackfoot Reservoir are declining; conditions at the reservoir itself should be confirmed through Bureau of Reclamation

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 28 cfs, falling — low, declining flows on the Portneuf; this basin has limited snowpack recharge remaining

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 328 cfs, falling — the highest individual tributary reading in the network; flows remain relatively robust but are on a falling trend as the snowmelt season concludes

    • The overall picture is one of declining to stable flows with no snowmelt reinforcement anticipated. The stable reading at Pescadero is a notable anchor point for Bear River Basin users and likely reflects managed releases; users dependent on that reach should monitor whether release management continues to support that flow level.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello ((208) 525-7161) to confirm current Bear River Groundwater Management Area (Bear River GWMA) conditions and any active administration orders affecting water deliveries in Caribou County.
  • Check with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for current Blackfoot Reservoir storage status, as falling inflows at the Henry gauge make reservoir carryover the operative supply variable for Blackfoot River Basin users.
  • Contact PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage status, which governs multi-season supply reliability for Bear River Basin irrigators across the county.
  • Verify your delivery schedule and priority status with your local water district or irrigation company before making late-season planting or cutting decisions.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 12, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 13, 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 6, 2026Caribou County Brief — June 29, 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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