Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Caribou County, ID

August 31, 2026

Caribou County Water Intelligence Brief

August 31, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Bear River flows at Pescadero, ID are rising and currently running at 1,010 cfs, signaling active late-season deliveries across the Bear River basin — a positive near-term condition for Caribou County irrigators finishing out the irrigation season. The Blackfoot River above the reservoir is holding steady at 22 cfs, and the Portneuf River at Pocatello is rising at 54 cfs, rounding out a late-August picture of modest but functional surface water availability across the county's four watersheds. Reservoir storage data for Blackfoot Reservoir, Bear Lake, and other key facilities — along with 7-day forecast details and depletion analysis — are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations reporting for Caribou County's surrounding mountain ranges show negligible to zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of August 30, 2026 — which is the normal seasonal condition for this point in the calendar. At late August, median SWE at these stations is also 0.0", so current readings do not represent a below-normal anomaly for today's date.

Station readings:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.1", Depth 1.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.0", Depth 1.0"
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.2", Depth 0.0"
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", Depth 2.0"
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", Depth 0.0"

    • The small residual depth readings at Emigrant Summit, Franklin Basin, and Tony Grove Lake likely reflect firn or remnant ice rather than active snowpack contributing meaningfully to streamflow. Background context: an anomalous March 2026 heat wave caused mountain snowpack across the region to melt out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, which shaped the entire seasonal streamflow curve earlier this year. That early meltout is now a past event, not a current condition.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Streamflow across the Bear River basin shows a mixed but broadly functional late-season picture, with several gauges trending upward as of August 31.

    Bear River Basin:

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 61 cfs (stable) — modest inflow entering Idaho from Wyoming
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,010 cfs (rising) — the primary in-basin delivery gauge; rising conditions are favorable for late-season irrigation demand
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 287 cfs (rising) — downstream signal confirming active flow through the system
  • Blacksmith Fork above dams near Hyrum, UT: 51 cfs (stable)
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 24 cfs (rising)
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 71 cfs (stable)
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs (data from 05/15 — this gauge reading is significantly dated and should not be used for current operational decisions)

    • Blackfoot River Basin:

  • Blackfoot River above Reservoir near Henry, ID: 22 cfs (stable) — low but steady inflow into Blackfoot Reservoir

    • Portneuf River Basin:

  • Portneuf River at Pocatello, ID: 54 cfs (rising) — a positive late-season trend for this basin

    • Salt River Basin:

  • Salt River above Reservoir near Etna, WY: 375 cfs (stable) — the strongest single-gauge reading in the dataset, providing meaningful inflow context for the Salt River basin

    • The rising trend at Pescadero and Corinne is the most operationally relevant signal for Bear River basin irrigators. The Malad River reading at Bear River City is stale (May 15) and should not be used without verification from current USGS data.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello ((208) 525-7161) to verify current water right delivery status and any active curtailment notices for Bear River basin water users in Caribou County.
  • Reach out to the Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region (Boise office) for current Blackfoot Reservoir operational status and storage figures affecting Blackfoot River basin deliveries.
  • Contact PacifiCorp's Bear River System operations or the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage levels, which influence downstream Bear River delivery capacity into the late season.
  • Check with your local irrigation district or ditch company to confirm scheduled delivery windows and any end-of-season shutoff dates before finalizing remaining irrigation applications.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 30, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 31, 2026

    Data Current As Of: August 31, 2026. 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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    Caribou County ID Water Report — August 31, 2026 | Wai AI