Water Intelligence Brief

Franklin County, ID — Bear River Basin

August 31, 2026

Situation Summary

Bear River flows at Pescadero are running at 1,010 cfs and rising, providing active late-season supply to Franklin County irrigators, while upstream entry at the Wyoming border holds at a stable 61 cfs. With snowpack fully melted out across all monitored stations, the system is now entirely dependent on base flows, groundwater discharge, and reservoir releases for the remainder of the irrigation season. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details 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 August 30, reflecting normal end-of-season conditions for this point in the calendar — late August median SWE at these stations is also 0.0", so current readings are consistent with seasonal norms. Notable is that this year's meltout occurred 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date basin-wide, meaning the snowpack-to-streamflow conversion window closed significantly earlier than usual.

Station readings as of August 30:

The residual depth readings at Emigrant Summit, Franklin Basin, and Tony Grove Lake likely reflect isolated remnant snow or instrument conditions rather than meaningful stored water — SWE at those stations reads 0.0" or near-zero, confirming negligible available moisture. No snowmelt contribution to streamflow should be anticipated for the remainder of the season.

Streamflow Conditions

Bear River at Pescadero (1,010 cfs, rising) is the primary in-county supply signal and currently reflects a healthy late-season flow level. The rising trend at Pescadero warrants monitoring — users should track whether this reflects reservoir release management or transient conditions. Bear River at the Wyoming border (61 cfs, stable) indicates modest natural inflow entering the basin from upstream, with the substantial difference between border entry and Pescadero flow reflecting intervening reservoir operations and tributary contributions through the system.

Full gauge readings as of August 30–31:

The Malad River reading dates to May 15 and should not be used for current operational planning. Irrigators relying on any Malad River tributary flows should contact IDWR or local ditch companies for current conditions. The rising trend at Corinne and Little Bear River suggests system-wide flows are responding to current release or base-flow dynamics, though no snowmelt source remains to sustain or increase these levels independently.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 30, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 31, 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.