Cassia County Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Cassia County enters peak 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 due to the anomalous March heat wave. Both the Snake River corridor (Burley/Rupert area) and the Raft River Valley (Oakley/Malta area) are operating on runoff that has already passed, placing full seasonal demand on canal deliveries, stored water, and groundwater. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three SNOTEL stations monitored for Cassia County's contributing watersheds report zero snow water equivalent as of July 5, 2026:

The Galena Summit station records a residual 2.0" of snow depth despite 0.0" SWE — indicating trace consolidated snowpack with negligible water content remaining. No percent-of-median figures are reported at any station, which reflects that the median SWE for this date is also 0.0": these stations are at their normal seasonal condition for early July. The water supply signal is not "below normal today" but rather that meltout occurred 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, meaning the seasonal pulse of snowmelt-driven streamflow and reservoir recharge concluded well ahead of schedule. No additional snowmelt contribution to Snake River flows or Raft River flows should be anticipated for the remainder of the irrigation season.

Streamflow Conditions

Cassia Creek below Blacksmith Creek (USGS): Reporting 8 cfs as of July 6, with a falling trend. This small tributary reflects typical low summer baseflow conditions for south-county drainages feeding into the Raft River system. The falling trend is consistent with the absence of snowmelt input and declining seasonal baseflow.

Raft River above Onemile Creek near Malta (USGS 13078000): Reporting 2 cfs as of July 6, with a falling trend. This is the primary in-county streamflow indicator for the Raft River Valley agricultural zone. At 2 cfs and declining, available surface water for Raft River Valley ranchers and irrigators is extremely limited. Operators dependent on direct Raft River diversions should treat this as a critical low-flow signal for the remainder of the season.

Note on Snake River corridor: No active USGS Snake River gauge exists within Cassia County boundaries — the Snake River near Burley gauge (13085045) is discontinued. Supply assessment for the Burley Irrigation District service area relies on upstream indicators. Canal delivery status from Burley Irrigation District is the most reliable real-time supply indicator for north-county irrigators and processing industry users.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 5, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 6, 2026

Data Current As Of: July 6, 2026. SNOTEL data provided by NRCS National Water and Climate Center. Streamflow data provided by USGS National Water Information System.

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources for regulatory decisions and water rights administration, including: Idaho Department of Water Resources, Water District 36 — Burley office (primary point of contact for Cassia County water right administration and call status); Burley Irrigation District (primary delivery infrastructure for the Snake River corridor); U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, Boise office (American Falls Reservoir and Palisades Reservoir upstream storage context); and local ditch companies and ranching associations serving the Raft River Valley (Oakley, Malta, Almo, Elba areas). This brief does not constitute legal, regulatory, or water rights advice.