Franklin County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

July 20, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Snowpack across the Bear River Basin has fully melted out, with SNOTEL stations recording 0.0" SWE — consistent with normal seasonal conditions for mid-July, though the 2026 season was notable for stations melting out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Streamflow on the Bear River system shows a wide range across the basin, with the Pescadero reach carrying strong flows while upstream and downstream gauges reflect typical mid-summer declining patterns. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion trajectory analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations in the Bear River Basin are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent as of July 19, 2026, which is the expected seasonal baseline for this point in the calendar year:

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

|---|---|---|

| Bear River RS | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Emigrant Summit | 0.2" | 0.0" |

| Franklin Basin | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Garden City Summit | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Giveout | N/A | 0.0" |

| Slug Creek Divide | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Tony Grove Lake | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| USU Doc Daniel | 0.0" | 0.0" |

The Emigrant Summit station is the sole exception, carrying a trace reading of 0.2" SWE — a negligible residual with no depth recorded. No percent-of-median figures are reported for any station, which indicates that the median SWE for this date is also 0.0" at these locations. These stations are therefore at normal seasonal condition for late July, not below normal in a current-conditions sense.

The meaningful snowpack story for 2026 is timing, not today's reading. Across the Bear River Basin, stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — a consequence of the anomalous March heat wave that accelerated the transition to snowfree conditions well before the typical late April–May window. That early meltout translates directly into a compressed early-season recharge pulse and a longer-than-normal interval without new snowmelt input heading into peak irrigation demand months.

Streamflow Conditions

Seven USGS gauges are active across the Bear River Basin as of July 20, 2026. Flows vary substantially by location, reflecting the basin's complex reservoir and diversion infrastructure between gauging points:

The contrast between the Pescadero reach (1,390 cfs, stable) and the Corinne downstream gauge (158 cfs, falling) underscores the extent to which reservoir operations and major diversions shape available flows through the system. Franklin County irrigators drawing from the Bear River system should monitor the Pescadero gauge as the most operationally relevant current indicator for in-state Idaho conditions.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 19, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 20, 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.