Well permits in Lake County
2,756 well permits — 0.5% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 106 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
2,756Permits
106 ftMedian depth
547Expired
0Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Lake County
This is the part a buyer actually wants, and it is not published anywhere else. The figures below are medians over the permits where the Division was told — a mean would be carried away by a handful of industrial wells.
| Measurement | Median | 90th percentile | Colorado median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 106 ft | 300 ft | 148 ft — shallower here (1,801 permits, 65 %) |
| Yield | 10 gpm | 15 gpm | 10 gpm — the same here (747 permits, 27 %) |
| Static water level | 58 ft | 195 ft | 58 ft — the same here (1,576 permits, 57 %) |
What the permits allow
A well permit is not a general right to water: it names what the water may be used for, and the narrowest of them — household use only — means inside the house and nothing else.
| Decreed use | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Household Use Only | 1,456 | 52.8% |
| Domestic | 763 | 27.7% |
| Monitoring/sampling | 279 | 10.1% |
| Commercial | 90 | 3.3% |
| Other | 65 | 2.4% |
| Municipal | 35 | 1.3% |
| Not stated | 26 | 0.9% |
| Industrial | 15 | 0.5% |
| Irrigation | 13 | 0.5% |
| Stock | 8 | 0.3% |
| Augmentation | 3 | 0.1% |
| Fire | 2 | 0.1% |
What happened to these permits
1,607 of the 2,756 permits in Lake County ended with a well the Division was told about — 58.3%. And 547 expired without one: 19.8%.
An expired permit is the trap in a rural sale. A seller can produce a permit that lapsed years ago, and a permit is not a water right — the two are separate, and a purchase turns on both. What an expired permit does and does not mean.
| Status | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Well Constructed | 1,607 | 58.3% |
| Permit Expired | 547 | 19.8% |
| Permit Issued | 134 | 4.9% |
| Application Information Requested | 94 | 3.4% |
| Permit Canceled | 88 | 3.2% |
| Well Abandoned | 85 | 3.1% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 74 | 2.7% |
| Application Denied | 56 | 2.0% |
| Permit Expired (Pump Installed) | 18 | 0.7% |
| Application Received | 17 | 0.6% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 2,611 | 94.7% |
| Alluvial | 88 | 3.2% |
| Not stated | 44 | 1.6% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 6 | 0.2% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 5 | 0.2% |
| Fractured Granite | 2 | 0.1% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 292 | 10.6% |
| 2010s | 276 | 10.0% |
| 2000s | 502 | 18.2% |
| 1990s | 516 | 18.7% |
| 1980s | 285 | 10.3% |
| 1970s | 297 | 10.8% |
| 1960s | 43 | 1.6% |
| 1950s | 5 | 0.2% |
Buying land in Lake County, or need a well drilled?
2,756 well permits are on the Division’s register in Lake County, 547 of them expired. This site tells you what a permit says; it does not drill, and it is not advice on a water right. Tell us where and we pass the request to drillers and water-rights advisers working in Colorado.
We take no commission and we recommend no driller. We have no arrangement with any firm today — we are collecting these requests in order to go and find them. What we do with this.
Permits on record in Lake County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dowen (filing: 1) permit 341856- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 229 | 0 | 2026 |
| Sonny Stephens permit 90580-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 131 | 0 | 2026 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 341912- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 331 | 0 | 2026 |
| Grand West Estates permit 90680-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 191 | 0 | 2026 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 342404- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 330 | 0 | 2026 |
| Mount Massive Trout Club permit 343590- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 50 | 0 | 1940 |
| Brethour #2 Mining Claim #20545 permit 340849- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 155 | 0 | 2026 |
| E E Hill permit 337620- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 240 | 0 | 2025 |
| Turquoise Lake Estates permit 337696- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 210 | 0 | 2025 |
| West Pines (filing: 1) permit 89840-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 150 | 0 | 2025 |
| Edward E Hill Estate permit 339546- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 335 | 0 | 2026 |
| Ross permit 90074-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 540 | 0 | 2018 |
| Beaver Lake Estates (filing: 1) permit 339620- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 134 | 0 | 2025 |
| Ee Hill permit 340206- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 642 | 0 | 2025 |
| Home Stake Trout Club permit 340551- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 45 | 0 | 1966 |
| Elk Trail permit 90227-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 248 | 0 | 2026 |
| Dowen (filing: 1) permit 206820--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 55 | 12 | 2025 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 333592- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 520 | 0 | 2025 |
| Murray Tracts permit 333943- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 59 | 0 | 2025 |
| West Pines (filing: 1) permit 88953-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 124 | 15 | 2024 |
| Murray Tracts permit 333940- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 63 | 0 | 2024 |
| Twin Lakes Addition permit 334179- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 114 | 0 | 2024 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 334895- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 541 | 0 | 2024 |
| Gordon Acres permit 318609--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 53 | 8.5 | 2024 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 335352- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 287 | 0 | 2025 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 335471- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 361 | 0 | 2025 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 335472- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 230 | 0 | 2025 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 335503- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 400 | 0 | 2025 |
| Ross permit 89527-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 465 | 0 | 2025 |
| Gordon Acres permit 336405- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 60 | 0 | 1958 |
| Ross permit 89632-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 623 | 0 | 1999 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 336554- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 468 | 0 | 2025 |
| Ee Hill permit 329639- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 390 | 7 | 2023 |
| Turquoise Lake Estates permit 329630- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 216 | 8 | 2024 |
| Green permit 329853- | Well Constructed | Other | 63 | 0 | 2023 |
| Gordon Acres permit 1883--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 82 | 3 | 2023 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 330239- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 298 | 2 | 2024 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 330421- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 349 | 0 | 2023 |
| Ee Hill permit 330456- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 200 | 9 | 2023 |
| Sonny Stephens permit 88138-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 117 | 10 | 2024 |
| Grand West Estates permit 330678- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 97 | 0 | 2023 |
| Mountain Pines Ranch permit 88175-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 125 | 12 | 2024 |
| Ross permit 88227-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 498 | 5 | 2024 |
| E E Hill permit 330947- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 213 | 5 | 2023 |
| Gordan Acres permit 139352--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 81 | 8 | 2024 |
| E E Hill permit 331795- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 376 | 6 | 2025 |
| Tenderfoot Placer Ms# 2259 permit 332326- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 110 | 0 | 1976 |
| Ee Hill permit 332347- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 410 | 7 | 2024 |
| Ee Hill permit 332553- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 200 | 0 | 2024 |
| Twin Lakes Canon Estates permit 332581- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 500 | 3 | 2024 |
| Green permit 325123- | Well Constructed | Other | 260 | 0 | 2023 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates (filing: 2) permit 86578-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 270 | 0 | 2022 |
| E E Hill permit 326197- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 145 | 15 | 2022 |
| Ee Hill Estates permit 326298- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 460 | 7 | 2024 |
| Elk Trail permit 86852-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 137 | 0 | 2019 |
| Ee Hill permit 326302- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 245 | 6 | 2022 |
| Ee Hill permit 326790- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 296 | 0 | 2022 |
| Sylvan Lakes permit 326594- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 105 | 0 | 2023 |
| Ee Hill permit 326784- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 346 | 0 | 2023 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates (filing: 1) permit 87004-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 105 | 5 | 2023 |
| Gordon Acres permit 326954- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 46 | 0 | 2023 |
| Ross permit 87026-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 510 | 0 | 2018 |
| Mountain Pines Ranch permit 87055-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 120 | 3 | 2022 |
| Mountain Pines Ranch (filing: 5&6) permit 87132-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 111 | 10 | 2022 |
| Hudson permit 328394- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 142 | 0 | 2022 |
| Bea Ver Lake Estate (filing: 1) permit 75354--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 80 | 0 | 2022 |
| Beaver Lake Estates (filing: 2) permit 87364-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 106 | 0 | 2023 |
| Edward E Hill permit 328409- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 288 | 0 | 2023 |
| Gem Valley permit 328328- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 217 | 10 | 2022 |
| E E Hill permit 328693- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 243 | 0 | 2023 |
| Turquoise Lake Estates permit 328694- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 158 | 0 | 2023 |
| Ee Hill permit 328826- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 406 | 7 | 2025 |
| Key Placer permit 329050- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 153 | 0 | 2023 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 329068- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 405 | 0 | 2023 |
| Beaver Lakes permit 87736-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 197 | 7 | 2021 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates permit 320061- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 80 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ee Hill Estates permit 320479- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 420 | 5 | 2021 |
| E E Hill permit 320744- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 220 | 9 | 2022 |
| West Pines (filing: 1) permit 85249-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 150 | 1.5 | 2021 |
| Twin Lakes permit 321221- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 50 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ee Hill Estates permit 321203- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 304 | 5 | 2021 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates permit 85514-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 94 | 6 | 2021 |
| Ee Hill permit 322331- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 260 | 7 | 2022 |
| Edward E Hill Estate permit 322530- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 197 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ee Hill permit 322760- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 255 | 7 | 2022 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates permit 100965--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 122 | 7 | 2021 |
| Bryan&sewall Ms#16897 permit 322918- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 276 | 0.5 | 2023 |
| Mountain Pines Ranch permit 85808-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 170 | 5 | 2006 |
| Beaver Lake Estates (filing: 1) permit 323146- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 5 | 2023 |
| Ross permit 85898-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 412 | 0 | 2022 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates permit 85895-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 122 | 5 | 2021 |
| Twin Lakes Canon Estates permit 323408- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 115 | 3 | 2023 |
| Ee Hill Estates permit 323601- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 252 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ee Hill permit 323856- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 220 | 7 | 2024 |
| Homestake Trout Club permit 324558- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 90 | 0 | 2022 |
| Elk Trail permit 86349-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 212 | 10 | 2022 |
| Majestic Mountain Ranch permit 86433-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 175 | 12 | 2020 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates permit 86374-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 527 | 7 | 2022 |
| Rocky Acres permit 317027- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 5 | 2023 |
| John Placer #1096 permit 317070- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 37 | 10 | 2020 |
| Home Stake Trout Club permit 103183--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 61 | 0 | 2020 |
| Edward E Hill Estates permit 317682- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 260 | 7 | 2021 |
| Homestake Trout Club permit 317686- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 237 | 7 | 2020 |
| Piney Run permit 317840- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 105 | 0 | 2020 |
| Mountain Pines Ranch permit 84490-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 125 | 7 | 2020 |
| Beaver Lakes Estates (filing: 1) permit 317873- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 51 | 10 | 2020 |
| Homestake Trout Club permit 317944- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 210 | 0 | 2020 |
| Home Stake Trout Club permit 17558--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 77 | 12 | 2020 |
| Ross permit 84555-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 4.5 | 2020 |
| Ee Hill permit 318211- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 300 | 0 | 2021 |
By decreed use in Lake County
Counties with a comparable register
- Delta 3,935
- Prowers 3,895
- Archuleta 3,805
- Rio Blanco 3,486
- San Miguel 3,416
- Otero 3,393
- Phillips 2,865
- Bent 2,362
- Sedgwick 2,293
- Cheyenne 2,133
- Montezuma 2,111
- Jackson 1,625
- Mineral 1,539
Neighbours by the size of their register, not a ranking: the list slides with the county you are on, so each of the 63 county pages is reachable from the others. All of them.