Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

August 24, 2026

Caribou County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

August 24, 2026 | Bear River Basin Region

Situation Summary

Caribou County enters the final weeks of the 2026 irrigation season with negligible snowpack remaining across all monitored SNOTEL stations — consistent with a year in which mountain snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Streamflows across the Bear River, Blackfoot River, Portneuf River, and Salt River basins reflect this early-season runoff pattern, with several key gauges trending downward. Reservoir storage data for Blackfoot Reservoir, Bear Lake, and associated facilities, along with 7-day forecast details and operational recommendations, are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving Caribou County watersheds are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow depth as of August 23, 2026 — a condition that is normal for this calendar date. The critical context for 2026 is not today's readings but the season's trajectory: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of their historical median meltout dates, meaning the snowpack-driven recharge pulse that typically sustains late-summer streamflows arrived and concluded earlier than normal.

Station-by-station readings:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.2", Depth 1.0" — the only station with any measurable snow remaining, a trace amount
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.4" — the highest SWE reading in the network, though with 0.0" reported depth, this reading warrants verification before operational reliance
  • 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"

    • With the snowpack effectively depleted across the region, no additional snowmelt-driven streamflow contribution is expected for the remainder of the irrigation season. Late-season flows will depend on reservoir releases, groundwater baseflow contributions, and any precipitation events.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Ten USGS gauges across Caribou County's four watershed basins provide the current streamflow picture. Conditions are mixed, with several Bear River mainstem gauges showing falling trends entering late August.

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 58 cfs, falling — the upstream entry point into the Bear River system shows declining flow, signaling reduced inflow to the system from Wyoming headwaters.
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 883 cfs, stable — the highest-volume reading in the network; stability at this gauge reflects reservoir management influences on the mid-system Bear River.
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 200 cfs, falling — downstream conditions continue to decline, consistent with the falling trend at the Border gauge and late-season demand patterns.
  • Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Co.'s Dam nr Hyrum, UT: 50 cfs, stable — tributary flows holding steady.
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 16 cfs, falling (data as of 08/23) — a small tributary showing continued late-season decline.
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 66 cfs, falling (data as of 08/22) — another Bear River tributary in declining late-season condition.
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs — most recent data dated 05/15; this gauge reading is significantly stale and should not be used for current operational decisions. Users should contact USGS or IDWR for current Malad River conditions.

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 19 cfs, stable — low but stable inflow to Blackfoot Reservoir. With snowpack contributions exhausted, this flow reflects baseflow conditions entering the reservoir.

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 39 cfs, falling — late-season decline consistent with regional patterns; this gauge serves as the primary indicator for the Portneuf basin.

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 345 cfs, stable — notably the strongest stable reading among the monitored gauges, suggesting the Salt River basin is holding late-season flows better than the Bear River mainstem at comparable points.

    • The dominant pattern across monitored gauges is falling or stable flows at late-season low levels, with no snowmelt recharge available to reverse these trends. The Pescadero gauge's stable 883 cfs reading is the primary exception and is likely influenced by managed reservoir releases upstream.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello ((208) 525-7161) to verify current water right administration status and any active priority calls on the Bear River, Blackfoot River, or Portneuf River systems.
  • Check with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for current Blackfoot Reservoir operational status and release scheduling as inflows from the Blackfoot River above Henry gauge remain at baseflow levels.
  • Contact PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage status, which governs late-season Bear River mainstem release volumes affecting Caribou County irrigators.
  • Monitor updated flow data through the USGS National Water Information System (waterdata.usgs.gov), particularly at the Bear River at Border and Portneuf River at Pocatello gauges, for any further late-season flow changes before the irrigation season closes.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 23, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 24, 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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