Franklin County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

Bear River Basin | September 21, 2026

Situation Summary

Bear River flows in the basin are mixed in direction but remain within operational range for late-season conditions, with the Pescadero gauge showing 379 cfs falling and the Border gauge at 71 cfs rising — signals that irrigators approaching the final weeks of the season should monitor closely for delivery reliability. With irrigation demand beginning to taper as crops mature, the near-term question is whether late-September flows will sustain scheduled diversions through the end of the season without interruption. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All SNOTEL stations serving the Bear River Basin are reporting end-of-season conditions consistent with normal late-September status. Where no percent-of-median is shown alongside a 0.0" SWE reading, the historical median SWE for this date is also 0.0" — meaning those stations are at their normal seasonal condition, not anomalously low. The 2026 season's defining snowpack story was meltout timing: stations across the basin melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, a consequence of the anomalous March heat wave — but that is background context for the current season, not the present condition.

Station-by-station readings as of September 20, 2026:

No snowpack-derived inflow should be anticipated at this point in the season. The basin is fully dependent on stored water and residual streamflow for any remaining irrigation deliveries.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River Basin gauges as of September 21, 2026 show a range of flow directions across the system. The pattern of rising flows at upstream and downstream points alongside a falling mid-basin reading is worth watching as operators assess late-season delivery scheduling.

The falling trend at Pescadero warrants attention for any Franklin County water users with late-season diversion schedules still active. The rising signals at the Border and downstream Utah gauges suggest the basin is not uniformly declining, but the Pescadero reach is the most operationally relevant for Idaho deliveries.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 20, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 21, 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, PacifiCorp/Bear River Commission (for Bear Lake storage operations) and local irrigation districts for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.