Franklin County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Franklin County enters peak irrigation season with snowpack-derived runoff largely complete across the Bear River Basin — SNOTEL stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date following an anomalous March heat wave. Streamflow on the Bear River system reflects this early-season transition, with mainstem flows falling at most gauges and the basin shifting toward reservoir and groundwater-dependent supply. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations serving the Bear River Basin show conditions consistent with full seasonal meltout as of July 5, 2026.

Stations reporting 0.0" SWE and 0.0" snow depth:

Stations reporting residual SWE with 0.0" snow depth:

The small SWE readings at Emigrant Summit, Franklin Basin, and Giveout alongside zero snow depth likely reflect sensor or ground-ice conditions rather than meaningful snowpack — no skiable or hydrologically significant snow remains at these elevations.

Anomalous reading — USU Doc Daniel: 0.0" SWE with 3.0" snow depth. This combination is unusual and may indicate a sensor anomaly or localized icing condition; it does not represent meaningful water supply storage.

The critical signal for 2026 is meltout timing: across the Bear River Basin, stations melted out approximately 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date. No snowmelt-driven recharge to streamflow should be anticipated at this point in the season. Basin water supply is now fully dependent on stored water and base flows.

Streamflow Conditions

Seven USGS gauges provide current Bear River Basin streamflow data for Franklin County planning purposes.

Bear River mainstem:

Bear River tributaries (Utah gauges providing basin context):

Malad River near Bear River City, UT: 6 cfs — data current as of May 15; this gauge has not updated since mid-May. Use this reading with caution and treat it as a lagging indicator only.

Overall streamflow picture: The Bear River at Pescadero remains the operationally critical gauge for Franklin County irrigators, with 1,340 cfs representing meaningful mainstem flow. However, the falling trend at Border and Pescadero, combined with complete snowmelt exhaustion, indicates that flows will continue to decline through the remainder of the irrigation season absent significant reservoir releases or precipitation events. Tributary gauges in Utah all show stable-to-falling conditions, reinforcing the post-peak-runoff signal across the basin.

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: 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.