Jerome County Water Intelligence Brief

September 28, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

As Jerome County enters the final weeks of the 2026 irrigation season, North Side Canal Company deliveries are winding down on schedule, with upstream Snake River conditions at Milner reflecting normal late-season operations. For Jerome County dairy operators and alfalfa producers, the more consequential question is not current streamflow but carryover reservoir storage in American Falls and Palisades — the 80% storage supply that will set the table for the 2027 season. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Lewis Lake Divide (SNOTEL 577:WY:SNTL, 7,880 ft, Teton County WY) recorded 0.0 inches SWE and 0.0 inches snow depth as of September 27. No percent-of-median figure is shown, which indicates the historical median SWE for this date is also 0.0 inches — the station is at its normal seasonal condition for late September, not below normal. This is expected: snowpack has fully melted out for the season. The meaningful 2026 signal from Lewis Lake Divide occurred earlier in the calendar year — the station melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave. That early meltout advanced peak Snake River runoff into Palisades and American Falls reservoirs well ahead of normal, shaping this season's storage-dependent supply picture from early spring onward.

Streamflow Conditions

No active USGS streamflow gauges within Jerome County boundaries are available for this brief. Jerome County has no in-county gauges relevant to agricultural water supply — the county relies on Snake River gauges at Milner (USGS 13087995, pre-diversion) and near Twin Falls (USGS 13090500) as the definitive supply references for North Side Canal deliveries. Neither gauge is physically located in Jerome County. No gauge data was provided in today's data context. For current Snake River flow conditions at Milner, contact North Side Canal Company directly or consult USGS National Water Information System for gauges 13087995 and 13090500.

Seasonal Guidance

Subscribe for the full brief including reservoir storage, weather forecasts, depletion analysis, and detailed operational recommendations.

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 27, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 28, 2026

Data Current As Of: September 28, 2026

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR — administers Water District 36, the middle Snake River priority system), North Side Canal Company (primary north-bank diverter at Milner Dam, serving approximately 85,000 acres across Jerome, Lincoln, and adjacent counties), A&B Irrigation District (USBR Bureau of Reclamation project serving northern Magic Valley area in Jerome and Lincoln counties), and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region (Boise office — for American Falls and Palisades upstream reservoir storage data). IDWR Eastern Regional Office, Pocatello: (208) 525-7161.