Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

August 3, 2026

Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

August 3, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Caribou County's four watersheds are operating in full late-summer mode, with all SNOTEL stations reporting zero snowpack — a condition consistent with normal seasonal expectations for early August, but arriving 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date following the anomalous March heat wave that characterized the 2026 water year. Streamflow across the Bear River, Blackfoot River, Portneuf River, and Salt River basins reflects this early-season drainage, with the Bear River system showing falling trends at key downstream gauges. Reservoir storage data for Blackfoot Reservoir, Bear Lake, and other regional facilities — along with 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 zero snow water equivalent (SWE) and zero snow depth as of August 2, 2026. This is the expected condition for this calendar date — the median SWE at these stations in early August is also 0.0", so current readings do not represent a below-normal departure from today's seasonal benchmark.

The meaningful signal for 2026 is meltout timing: stations across all four watersheds melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. That early departure — driven by the March heat wave — compressed the spring runoff pulse and advanced peak streamflow timing across the region. The practical consequence is that snowmelt-derived recharge to soils, streamflow, and reservoir storage concluded well before the peak of summer irrigation demand, leaving the remainder of the season dependent on stored water and baseflow rather than continued melt contribution.

Station-by-station readings as of August 2:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.1", Depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE N/A, Depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"

    • Emigrant Summit's trace reading of 0.1" SWE with 0.0" reported depth is a negligible figure and does not represent meaningful snowpack. No additional snowmelt contribution to streamflow or soil moisture should be anticipated from any station in the network at this time.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Streamflow across Caribou County's watersheds as of August 3, 2026 shows a mixed picture — the Salt River Basin is holding stable at higher flows, the Bear River mainstem shows a significant contrast between upstream and downstream gauges, and the Blackfoot and Portneuf basins are running at low late-summer levels.

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 59 cfs (stable) — Upper basin contribution entering from Wyoming is modest and steady, reflecting low late-summer baseflow conditions at the headwaters.
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,050 cfs (falling) — This gauge, which integrates upstream storage releases and tributary inflows across the central Bear River system, is the highest-volume reading in the network. The falling trend warrants attention for downstream users who depend on continued Bear River mainstem flows through August.
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 247 cfs (falling) — The downstream Bear River into Utah is also falling, consistent with the Pescadero trend. The large differential between Pescadero and Corinne reflects diversions and reservoir operations along the corridor.
  • Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Canal Co.'s Dam near Hyrum, UT: 52 cfs (stable) — A Bear River tributary holding steady.
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 15 cfs (falling) — As of August 1, this tributary is at low late-summer flow on a falling trend.
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 72 cfs (falling) — As of August 1, falling conditions on this Bear River tributary reflect the broader late-season drainage pattern across the basin.
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs — This reading dates to May 15 and should not be treated as current. No recent data are available for this gauge; users dependent on lower Malad River conditions should contact Idaho and Utah state water agencies for current status.

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 12 cfs (stable) — Inflow to Blackfoot Reservoir is minimal and stable. At this level, above-reservoir inflow is making a limited contribution to storage; reservoir operations will largely govern downstream availability.

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 36 cfs (stable) — Late-summer low flow, stable. The Portneuf is a modest system by August; current conditions appear consistent with expected late-season baseflow.

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 328 cfs (stable) — The most robust flow reading in the network. The Salt River is maintaining stable late-summer flow well above what other basins are producing, reflecting its position and watershed characteristics. This is a positive indicator for reservoir inflow in the Salt River system.

    • Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello ((208) 525-7161) to verify current Bear River water right administration status and any active delivery curtailment notices affecting Caribou County irrigators.
  • Reach out to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region (Boise office) for current Blackfoot Reservoir operational status and projected late-season storage and release schedules.
  • Contact PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage levels and delivery allocation information relevant to Bear River basin water users.
  • Check the NRCS Idaho Water Supply Outlook (available at nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/wcc) for the August update to seasonal streamflow volume forecasts for the Bear River and Salt River basins.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 2, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 3, 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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