Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

August 17, 2026

Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

August 17, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Caribou County enters the late-irrigation season with snowpack fully melted across all monitored SNOTEL stations — a condition that arrived 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date following the anomalous March heat wave. Bear River mainstem flows remain active through the system, though several tributary gauges show falling or modest readings consistent with late-season conditions. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving Caribou County watersheds are reporting effectively zero snow water equivalent as of August 16, 2026 — a normal condition for this calendar date, as the historical median SWE at these stations is also 0.0" by mid-August. The notable story for 2026 is not today's readings, but timing: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of their historical median meltout dates, meaning the snowpack-driven recharge pulse entered streams and soils significantly earlier in the season than typical.

Station-by-station readings:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.2", depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", depth 1.0"
  • 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 0.0"
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", depth 0.0"

    • The trace readings at Emigrant Summit (0.2" SWE) and Giveout (0.3" SWE), combined with a residual depth reading at Franklin Basin (1.0"), are minor anomalies and do not represent meaningful snowmelt contribution at this stage of the season. No meaningful snowpack-driven streamflow augmentation should be anticipated from the monitored network going forward. Late-season streamflow will reflect reservoir releases, baseflow, and any precipitation events rather than snowmelt input.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Ten USGS gauges across Caribou County's four watersheds provide the current streamflow picture. The Bear River mainstem shows the most substantial flows, while tributary and secondary basin gauges reflect typical late-season low-flow conditions.

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 67 cfs, rising (08/17) — upper mainstem entry point into the Bear River system; rising signal warrants monitoring
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 805 cfs, falling (08/17) — primary mid-system gauge; elevated volume but falling trend is notable for late-season planning
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 824 cfs, rising (08/17) — lower system outlet gauge; rising reading, directionally diverging from Pescadero reading
  • Blacksmith Fork ab Up and L Co.'s Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 51 cfs, stable (08/16)
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 18 cfs, stable (08/17)
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 66 cfs, stable (08/16)
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (data through 05/15 — current conditions unknown; use with caution)

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 19 cfs, rising (08/17) — low but rising above Blackfoot Reservoir; inflow conditions relevant to reservoir managers

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 48 cfs, rising (08/17) — modest flow with an upward trend

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 363 cfs, rising (08/17) — the highest reading among tributary and secondary basin gauges; rising trend is the most significant positive signal in this data set

    • The Malad River gauge data (last reading 05/15) is stale and should not be used for current operational decisions. Users dependent on Malad River conditions should contact USGS or IDWR directly for current status. The divergence between falling flows at Pescadero and rising flows at Corinne on the Bear River mainstem may reflect system storage releases or tributary inputs between gauges — water managers with diversion rights in that reach should monitor closely.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello ((208) 525-7161) to confirm current water right priority administration status in the Bear River and Blackfoot River basins.
  • Check with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for current Blackfoot Reservoir operational status and projected late-season release schedule.
  • Contact PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage conditions, which govern late-season Bear River mainstem releases.
  • Review current delivery schedules directly with your local canal company or irrigation district to confirm late-season allocation and any announced curtailment or rotation notices.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 16, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 17, 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 — September 21, 2026Caribou County Brief — September 14, 2026Caribou County Brief — September 7, 2026Caribou County Brief — August 31, 2026Caribou County Brief — August 24, 2026Caribou County Brief — August 10, 2026Caribou 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 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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    Caribou County ID Water Report — August 17, 2026 | Wai AI