Franklin County, ID — Water Intelligence Brief

August 10, 2026 | Bear River Basin

Situation Summary

Franklin County's Bear River Basin enters mid-August with snowpack fully melted across all monitored SNOTEL stations, consistent with a 2026 season characterized by meltout occurring 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date. Streamflow conditions at key gauges are mixed, with the Pescadero reach running well and upper watershed inputs near seasonal minimums. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All eight SNOTEL stations monitoring the Bear River Basin report conditions typical of mid-to-late August: snowpack has fully melted out across the network. Because the median SWE for this calendar date is also 0.0" at all stations, current readings do not indicate a below-normal snowpack condition relative to August norms — the snowpack signal for this time of year is simply zero.

Station readings (August 9, 2026):

The critical seasonal context is not today's zero reading — that is normal for August — but rather when these stations melted out. The anomalous March 2026 heat wave drove meltout 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median across the Mountain West, meaning the basin lost its snowmelt pulse well before the typical late May–June window. That early meltout has been the defining supply constraint throughout the 2026 irrigation season: reservoir systems received their snowmelt inflows earlier than normal, and late-season streamflows are now running without meaningful snowmelt support.

No snowpack-based supply recovery is available for the remainder of the 2026 season. From this point forward, Bear River Basin flows will depend entirely on reservoir releases, groundwater contributions, and any late-season precipitation events.

Streamflow Conditions

Seven USGS gauges provide current streamflow intelligence across the Bear River Basin. Conditions range from robust mid-river flows to very low readings in tributary and lower-basin reaches.

Gauge readings (August 10, 2026 unless noted):

Overall streamflow picture: The Bear River at Pescadero remains the most robust reading in the network and provides the primary supply signal for Franklin County. The stable 1,030 cfs reading indicates that managed releases are sustaining mid-basin flows at a meaningful level. However, the falling trends on the lower Bear River at Corinne and on the Logan and Little Bear tributaries reflect the standard late-season trajectory — flows are declining as snowmelt is fully exhausted and consumptive demand accumulates. The gap between the Pescadero and Corinne readings (1,030 cfs vs. 150 cfs) is large and reflects substantial diversion and consumptive use through the Utah reaches of the system.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 9, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 10, 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.