Gooding County Water Intelligence Brief

September 14, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Snake River canal deliveries and ESPA spring flows are carrying Gooding County's dairy, alfalfa, and trout aquaculture operations into mid-September, with the Malad River near Gooding holding at 90 cfs — a relatively stable reading consistent with ESPA spring discharge conditions in the Hagerman Valley. Canal irrigators approaching the final weeks of the alfalfa cutting season should monitor delivery reliability closely as late-season Snake River flows tighten. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Both SNOTEL stations reporting for Gooding County's tributary watersheds show 0.0" snow water equivalent and 0.0" snow depth as of September 13 — the expected seasonal condition at this point in the calendar, when median SWE is also 0.0". No below-normal language applies to current readings.

Galena Summit (490:ID:SNTL): 0.0" SWE, 0.0" depth. As the primary snowpack indicator for the Big Wood River headwaters, Galena Summit's readings directly govern tributary inflows to the Snake River in the Gooding area. The relevant 2026 signal is timing: this station melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning Big Wood River tributary contributions to the Snake advanced earlier in the season than normal.

Lewis Lake Divide: 0.0" SWE, 0.0" depth. Similarly at seasonal baseline with no anomalous current condition to report.

New snowpack accumulation at Galena Summit will not meaningfully begin until late October or November. The Big Wood River system's contribution to Snake River flows near Gooding for the remainder of this irrigation season is now driven by baseflow, not snowmelt.

Streamflow Conditions

Malad River near Gooding (USGS 13152500): 90 cfs, falling trend as of September 14.

This gauge is the primary indicator of ESPA spring discharge for the Hagerman Valley. Unlike snowmelt-driven rivers, the Malad River reflects aquifer-level conditions and Thousand Springs spring discharge rates rather than seasonal runoff — making it the most operationally relevant water supply signal for Hagerman Valley trout aquaculture operators. The current 90 cfs reading represents the composite discharge from the Thousand Springs complex and associated ESPA springs emerging from the Snake River canyon walls. The falling trend warrants monitoring by spring water appropriation holders, though ESPA spring flows are inherently more stable than surface streams and do not fluctuate sharply on a daily basis.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 13, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 14, 2026

Data Current As Of: NRCS SNOTEL network; USGS National Water Information System

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, Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR — administers Water District 36 for middle Snake River and tributary water rights; also administers separate spring water appropriations for Hagerman Valley trout aquaculture and dairy operations), Idaho Department of Fish and Game (co-manages Thousand Springs State Park area), and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region (Boise office) for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.