Cassia County Water Intelligence Brief

July 13, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Across the Snake River Basin snowpack stations serving Cassia County's supply watersheds, seasonal meltout has concluded — snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the spring recharge window and shifting the supply picture toward late-season conditions earlier than typical. Both the Snake River corridor (Burley/Rupert area) and the Raft River Valley (Oakley/Malta area) are now fully dependent on stored water, canal delivery schedules, and groundwater to meet remaining 2026 irrigation demand. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three SNOTEL stations reporting for the Cassia County supply region show complete meltout as of July 12, 2026:

Zero SWE at all stations is consistent with normal mid-July seasonal conditions — the median SWE for this date is also 0.0", so these readings do not indicate below-normal snowpack *today*. The operational concern for 2026 is meltout timing: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the spring runoff pulse that recharges upstream reservoirs and sustains early-season Snake River flows arrived and receded significantly earlier than typical. No additional snowmelt-derived inflow should be anticipated for the remainder of the irrigation season.

Streamflow Conditions

Cassia Creek Below Blacksmith Creek (USGS, Snake River Basin): 6 cfs, falling, as of July 13. This small tributary reflects continued dry and declining conditions in the local drainage network — no relief from this source for Snake River corridor users.

Raft River Above Onemile Creek Near Malta (USGS 13078000): 2 cfs, rising, as of July 13. This is the primary in-county streamflow indicator for the Raft River Valley. At 2 cfs, flows are at the low end of what limited late-season supply is available to Oakley-area ranchers and irrigators. The rising signal warrants monitoring but should not be interpreted as meaningful supply recovery at this stage — Raft River Valley users should treat current conditions as a low-supply environment for the remainder of the season.

Snake River Corridor Note: No active USGS Snake River gauge exists within Cassia County boundaries — supply assessment for the Burley Irrigation District service area relies on upstream gauges at Milner and near Twin Falls, outside county boundaries. Burley Irrigation District and IDWR Water District 36 (Burley office) are the authoritative sources for current Snake River corridor delivery status.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 12, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 13, 2026.

Data Current As Of: July 13, 2026.

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including Burley Irrigation District (primary Snake River corridor delivery infrastructure), Idaho Department of Water Resources — Water District 36, Burley office (water right administration and call status for Cassia County), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region — Boise office (American Falls Reservoir and Palisades Reservoir upstream storage context), and IDWR Eastern Regional Office, Pocatello — (208) 525-7161 — for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.