Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Franklin County, ID

June 29, 2026

Franklin County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

June 29, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Franklin County's Bear River Basin water supply picture reflects an extremely early-melt year: snowpack across all monitored SNOTEL stations has essentially melted out, with stations having cleared 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Streamflow on the Bear River at Pescadero remains seasonally robust at over 1,500 cfs, but the absence of remaining snowpack means late-season flows will depend entirely on reservoir carryover and baseflow rather than continued melt contributions. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion rate analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations monitoring the Bear River Basin headlands relevant to Franklin County are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of June 28, 2026. This reflects the basin-wide early meltout pattern — stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by the anomalous March 2026 heat event.

Station-by-station readings:

  • Bear River RS: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Emigrant Summit: SWE 0.1", snow depth 0.0"
  • Franklin Basin: SWE 0.6", snow depth 1.0" — the only station still carrying any measurable SWE or snow depth in the network
  • Garden City Summit: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Giveout: SWE 0.3", snow depth 0.0" — a trace SWE reading with no measurable snow depth, indicating remnant patchy coverage only
  • Slug Creek Divide: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0"
  • Tony Grove Lake: SWE 0.0", snow depth not available
  • USU Doc Daniel: SWE 0.0", snow depth 3.0" — an anomalous depth reading with zero SWE, likely reflecting settled, heavily depleted ice or sensor artifact; no meaningful water content remains

    • The critical takeaway for Franklin County irrigators: with the exception of a marginal remnant at Franklin Basin, the snowpack that would normally be contributing meltwater into July is gone. No new melt-driven inflow pulses should be anticipated from the watershed. Supply from this point forward is a function of what has already been captured in reservoir storage and what baseflow the Bear River system sustains.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Bear River Basin streamflow presents a mixed picture as of June 29, 2026, with some gauges showing strong current flows but the absence of snowpack signaling that late-season declines are ahead.

  • Bear River at Border, WY: 138 cfs, stable — the uppermost gauge in the network, reflecting modest upper watershed contributions entering Idaho from Wyoming
  • Bear River at Pescadero, ID: 1,520 cfs, stable — the most directly relevant gauge for Franklin County agricultural users; current flows remain robust, though the stable trend with no melt input suggests this level is not likely to increase
  • Bear River near Corinne, UT: 492 cfs, rising — notable that this downstream Utah gauge is rising while upstream gauges are stable; this may reflect reservoir operations or tributary contributions in the middle Bear River reach, and warrants monitoring
  • Blacksmith Fork above Upper and Lower Companies' Dam near Hyrum, UT: 59 cfs, stable — a key Bear River tributary in Cache Valley contributing to the broader system
  • Little Bear River at Paradise, UT: 21 cfs, stable — lower tributary flow, consistent with late-season baseflow conditions
  • Logan River above State Dam, near Logan, UT: 153 cfs, stable — another Cache Valley tributary; stable flows indicate baseflow-supported conditions without active melt contribution
  • Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs — data current as of May 15; this gauge has not updated in over six weeks, and its reading should not be relied upon for current operational decisions

    • The Pescadero gauge at 1,520 cfs provides Franklin County irrigators with a current-season benchmark. However, with snowpack gone and no melt-driven recharge expected, flows are likely to decline progressively through the remainder of the irrigation season. The pace and severity of that decline will be governed by reservoir releases and basin-wide demand — factors tracked in the full brief.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello at (208) 525-7161 to confirm current water right call conditions and Bear River Groundwater Management Area (Bear River GWMA) status for the remainder of the irrigation season.
  • Check with PacifiCorp and the Bear River Commission for current Bear Lake storage operations, as Bear Lake is the primary multi-year carryover storage facility governing late-season Bear River flows through Franklin County.
  • Contact Glendale Reservoir management or your local irrigation district on the Cub River system to verify current storage status and anticipated delivery schedule for the balance of the season.
  • Review current Bear River Compact allocation status with the Idaho Department of Water Resources, as interstate compact administration between Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming affects available Bear River flow for Franklin County diversions.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 28, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 29, 2026

    Data Current As Of: June 29, 2026. Malad River near Bear River City gauge last updated May 15, 2026 — treat as stale data.

    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, and Idaho Department of Water Resources Eastern Regional Office in Pocatello, (208) 525-7161, 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.

    Other Issues

    Franklin County Brief — August 3, 2026Franklin County Brief — July 27, 2026Franklin County Brief — July 20, 2026Franklin County Brief — July 13, 2026Franklin County Brief — July 6, 2026Franklin County Brief — June 22, 2026Franklin County Brief — June 15, 2026Franklin County Brief — June 8, 2026Franklin County Brief — June 1, 2026Franklin County Brief — May 26, 2026Franklin County Brief — May 15, 2026Franklin County Brief — April 27, 2026

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