Cassia County Water Intelligence Brief

August 24, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Cassia County enters the final stretch of the 2026 irrigation season under late-summer low-flow conditions across both the Snake River corridor and the Raft River Valley, following an extremely early snowpack meltout that exhausted seasonal runoff contributions 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Water managers in both agricultural zones should plan around remaining stored supply and active delivery schedules rather than any further snowmelt contribution. 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 area show zero snowpack as of August 23, 2026:

No percent-of-median figures are shown for any station. This reflects normal seasonal conditions for late August — the median SWE for this calendar date is also 0.0" at all three locations. These readings do not indicate a snowpack deficit relative to today's date. The critical 2026 signal is not current SWE but meltout timing: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of their historical median meltout dates, meaning the seasonal runoff pulse that recharges Snake River flows and supports early-season canal deliveries was compressed and advanced into late winter and early spring. No further snowmelt contribution to streamflow or aquifer recharge is available for the remainder of the 2026 irrigation season.

Streamflow Conditions

Two USGS gauges provide in-county or near-county streamflow data as of August 24, 2026:

Cassia Creek Below Blacksmith Creek, ID: 5 cfs (stable). Cassia Creek is a minor tributary system in southern Cassia County. At 5 cfs, flows are characteristic of late-summer baseflow conditions — modest but stable, consistent with typical August readings for this small stream.

Raft River Above Onemile Creek Near Malta, ID (13078000): 2 cfs (stable). This gauge is the primary surface water indicator for the Raft River Valley agricultural zone in southern Cassia County. At 2 cfs, the Raft River is at minimal late-season flow. Raft River Valley ranchers and irrigators dependent on surface water diversions from this system should treat available supply as effectively limited to what is currently running — no flow increases from snowmelt are expected for the remainder of the season.

Snake River Corridor Note: No active USGS Snake River gauge exists within Cassia County boundaries. The Snake River near Burley gauge (USGS 13085045) is discontinued. Supply assessment for the Burley Irrigation District service area relies on upstream reference points at Milner and near Twin Falls. Burley Irrigation District delivery scheduling and direct contact with IDWR Water District 36 (Burley office) remain the primary operational data sources for the Snake River corridor.

Seasonal Guidance

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: August 24, 2026. SNOTEL network operated by NRCS; streamflow data from 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 and operational decisions, including: Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR), Water District 36, Burley district office; Burley Irrigation District (primary delivery infrastructure for the Snake River corridor); U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, Boise office (American Falls and Palisades Reservoir upstream context); and your local water district or ditch company. This brief does not constitute legal, engineering, or water rights advice. Water rights administration decisions should be made in consultation with IDWR and qualified water rights professionals.