Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

August 10, 2026 | Bear River Basin | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Snowpack across Caribou County's four watersheds has fully melted out, with SNOTEL stations confirming zero snow water equivalent as of August 9 — consistent with seasonal norms for this calendar date, though stations melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date this year. Streamflows reflect late-season conditions, with the Bear River system showing mixed signals across its length and the Blackfoot and Portneuf systems running at low levels. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations reporting in Caribou County's watershed area show fully melted conditions as of August 9, 2026, which is normal for this point in the calendar year — the median SWE for these stations in early August is also 0.0".

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

|---|---|---|

| Bear River RS | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Emigrant Summit | 0.2" | 0.0" |

| Franklin Basin | 0.0" | 1.0" |

| Garden City Summit | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Giveout | N/A | 0.0" |

| Slug Creek Divide | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Tony Grove Lake | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| USU Doc Daniel | 0.0" | 0.0" |

The notable seasonal context is meltout timing: across the Mountain West, snowpack melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date in 2026, driven by anomalous warmth in March. For mid-August water supply planning, the practical implication is that snowmelt-driven recharge to streams and reservoirs ended earlier in the season than typical, and no additional snowmelt input to flows should be expected until the following water year. Emigrant Summit's 0.2" SWE reading is a trace anomaly and does not represent meaningful water supply contribution. Franklin Basin's 1.0" snow depth with 0.0" SWE likewise reflects trace late-lying snow with negligible water content.

Streamflow Conditions

Ten USGS gauges across Caribou County's four watershed basins provide current flow intelligence.

Bear River Basin:

Blackfoot River Basin:

Portneuf River Basin:

Salt River Basin:

The overall streamflow picture is one of late-season low-flow conditions across most of Caribou County's watersheds, with the notable exception of the Bear River at Pescadero holding at 1,030 cfs. The falling trend on the Blackfoot, Portneuf, and lower Bear River points indicates continued seasonal decline should be expected absent significant precipitation events.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 9, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 10, 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.