# Well permits in Ouray County, Colorado — how deep, how much

> 1,242 well permits in Ouray County. The median well is 220 feet deep. What the permits allow, how many expired, and what the Division was told about depth and yield.

## Well permits in Ouray County

**1,242** well permits — 0.2% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is **220 feet** deep, against 148 feet statewide.

### How deep people drill in Ouray 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.

*Medians, on the permits where the Division was told — never a mean, which a few industrial wells would carry away*

| Measurement | Median | 90th percentile | Colorado median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | **220 ft** | 500 ft | 148 ft — deeper here (791 permits, 64 %) |
| Yield | **10 gpm** | 15 gpm | 10 gpm — the same here (314 permits, 25 %) |
| Static water level | **80 ft** | 250 ft | 58 ft — higher here (656 permits, 53 %) |

### 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 |
|---|---|---|
| [Domestic](/use/domestic.md) | 693 | 55.8% |
| [Household Use Only](/use/household-use-only.md) | 187 | 15.1% |
| [Monitoring/sampling](/use/monitoring-sampling.md) | 154 | 12.4% |
| [Irrigation](/use/irrigation.md) | 68 | 5.5% |
| [Commercial](/use/commercial.md) | 47 | 3.8% |
| [Other](/use/other.md) | 33 | 2.7% |
| [Stock](/use/stock.md) | 28 | 2.3% |
| [Geothermal](/use/geothermal.md) | 14 | 1.1% |
| [Not stated](/use/not-stated.md) | 11 | 0.9% |
| [Industrial](/use/industrial.md) | 3 | 0.2% |
| [Municipal](/use/municipal.md) | 2 | 0.2% |
| Fire | 2 | 0.2% |

### What happened to these permits

**678** of the 1,242 permits in Ouray County ended with a
well the Division was told about — 54.6%. And
**240** expired without one: 19.3%.

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](/expired.md).

| Status | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Well Constructed | 678 | 54.6% |
| Permit Expired | 240 | 19.3% |
| Permit Issued | 79 | 6.4% |
| Permit Canceled | 54 | 4.3% |
| Application Denied | 48 | 3.9% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 29 | 2.3% |
| Application Received | 26 | 2.1% |
| Application Information Requested | 23 | 1.9% |
| Well Abandoned | 18 | 1.4% |
| Application Withdrawn | 11 | 0.9% |

### Which aquifers

| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| [All Unnamed Aquifers](/aquifer/all-unnamed-aquifers.md) | 1,143 | 92.0% |
| [Dakota](/aquifer/dakota.md) | 42 | 3.4% |
| Dakota Sandstone | 16 | 1.3% |
| Mancos | 13 | 1.0% |
| [Alluvial](/aquifer/alluvial.md) | 6 | 0.5% |
| Dakota-burro Canyon | 6 | 0.5% |
| [Not stated](/aquifer/not-stated.md) | 5 | 0.4% |
| Morrison | 2 | 0.2% |
| Entrada | 2 | 0.2% |
| Dakota Group Aquifer | 2 | 0.2% |

### When the permits were issued

| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 125 | 10.1% |
| 2010s | 129 | 10.4% |
| 2000s | 195 | 15.7% |
| 1990s | 256 | 20.6% |
| 1980s | 170 | 13.7% |
| 1970s | 113 | 9.1% |
| 1960s | 5 | 0.4% |
| 1950s | 9 | 0.7% |

### Buying land in Ouray County, or need a well drilled?

1,242 well permits are on the Division’s register in Ouray County, 240 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](/privacy.md).

### Permits on record in Ouray County

*Well permits, Ouray County — 110 of the 110 shown carry the subdivision or plat name the applicant gave; a 0 means the Division was never told, not a measurement of zero*

| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Government Springs Ranch](/search.md) permit 337099- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 180 | 1.5 | 2025 |
| [Government Springs Ranch](/search.md) permit 338756- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 7 | 2025 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 334554- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 150 | 10 | 2024 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 336226- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2024 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 336884- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 0 | 2026 |
| [Loughter Place](/search.md) permit 87811-F | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 110 | 0 | 2020 |
| [Hudson](/search.md) permit 65100--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 150 | 0 | 2023 |
| [Army Navy 1557](/search.md) permit 325385- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 323 | 12.5 | 2023 |
| [Horsefly](/search.md) permit 326977- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 232 | 0 | 2022 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 328406- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2022 |
| [Spruce Mountain](/search.md) permit 328437- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 200 | 0 | 2024 |
| [Loughter Place](/search.md) permit 84310-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 110 | 75 | 2020 |
| [Park Estates](/search.md) permit 317936- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 220 | 0 | 2020 |
| [Loghill Crest](/search.md) permit 314383- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 405 | 10 | 2020 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 122303--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 250 | 5 | 2019 |
| [Loughter Place](/search.md) permit 82456-F | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 0 | 119 | 2012 |
| [Loughter Place](/search.md) permit 82754-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 130 | 0 | 1997 |
| [Sailors Exemption](/search.md) permit 78877-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 102 | 15 | 2003 |
| [E Telluride Addition](/search.md) permit 51377-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 10 | 0 | 2013 |
| [Loghill Crest](/search.md) permit 203050--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 565 | 0 | 2012 |
| [Sundance](/search.md) permit 127235--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 432 | 0 | 2012 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 288389- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 201 | 0 | 2012 |
| [San Juan Ranch](/search.md) permit 286811- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 620 | 0 | 2011 |
| [Del Norte Mining Claim, Survey No 6374](/search.md) permit 283967- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 444 | 0 | 2010 |
| [Horsefly Tracts 3](/search.md) permit 281829- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 362 | 5 | 2009 |
| [Dancing Bear Ranch](/search.md) permit 272976- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 440 | 0 | 2007 |
| [Hess-phillips Exemption](/search.md) permit 275815- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 840 | 0 | 2008 |
| [Loughter Place](/search.md) permit 64181-F | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | 2006 |
| [Loughter Place](/search.md) permit 64182-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 130 | 0 | 1997 |
| [Snowshoe](/search.md) permit 64949-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 401 | 6 | 2006 |
| [Horsefly Tracts 3](/search.md) permit 263114- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 900 | 0 | 2005 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 265861- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 402 | 15 | 2005 |
| [Jetley Exemption No 2](/search.md) permit 261693- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 142 | 0 | 2005 |
| [Pleasant Valley Slope #1](/search.md) permit 265913- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 782 | 15 | 2005 |
| [Creekside](/search.md) permit 43710-MH | Well Constructed | Monitoring/sampling | 20 | 0 | 2004 |
| [Hudson](/search.md) permit 61649-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 110 | 2.5 | 1972 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 254696- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 0 | 2004 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 256799- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 262 | 10 | 2004 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 257320- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 162 | 5 | 2004 |
| [Log Hill (filing: 4)](/search.md) permit 488-G | Well Constructed | Geothermal | 250 | 0 | 2004 |
| [Lazy Dog](/search.md) permit 258234- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 842 | 10 | 2004 |
| [Elk Meadows Estates](/search.md) permit 60265-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 198 | 20 | 2003 |
| [San Juan Ranch](/search.md) permit 237705- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 480 | 14 | 1995 |
| [Park Estates](/search.md) permit 240136- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 362 | 10 | 2002 |
| [Park Estates](/search.md) permit 241151- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 550 | 8 | 2002 |
| [Highlands Ranch](/search.md) permit 241765- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 352 | 11.1 | 2002 |
| [Park Estates](/search.md) permit 242851- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 710 | 2.5 | 2003 |
| [Gifford Exempt](/search.md) permit 243672- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 202 | 0 | 2002 |
| [Pleasant Valley](/search.md) permit 243683- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 792 | 15 | 2002 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 243691- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 583 | 6 | 2002 |
| [San Juan Vista](/search.md) permit 57993-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 110 | 6 | 2002 |
| [Wilton Parcels](/search.md) permit 231729- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 635 | 0 | 2001 |
| [Elk Mountain Resort](/search.md) permit 54442-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 322 | 10 | 2001 |
| [Horsefly](/search.md) permit 131245--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 800 | 0 | 2001 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 236842- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 343 | 3 | 2001 |
| [Zetterholm Exemption](/search.md) permit 125467--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 200 | 4 | 2001 |
| [Loghill Crest](/search.md) permit 226279- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 302 | 0.75 | 2000 |
| [Horsefly Tracts 3](/search.md) permit 216746- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 940 | 0 | 2001 |
| [Loghill Crest](/search.md) permit 217127- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 330 | 8 | 1999 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 219733- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 222 | 2.5 | 1999 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 221029- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 242 | 15 | 2001 |
| [Valley View](/search.md) permit 209012- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 80 | 15 | 1998 |
| [Swyhart & Wine Exemption](/search.md) permit 209020- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 482 | 6 | 1998 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 203056- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 343 | 5 | 1997 |
| [B & V](/search.md) permit 198179- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 425 | 0 | 1994 |
| [Fat Jack Exception](/search.md) permit 198487- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 10 | 1996 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 189035- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 283 | 0.5 | 1995 |
| [Loghill Village (filing: 4)](/search.md) permit 174037- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 104 | 4 | 1994 |
| [Horsefly](/search.md) permit 162809- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 324 | 0 | 1992 |
| [Portland Town of](/search.md) permit 159307--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 97 | 13 | 1990 |
| [Portland Townsite](/search.md) permit 158781- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1990 |
| [Horsefly](/search.md) permit 152189- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 185 | 0 | 1988 |
| [Horsefly](/search.md) permit 142295- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 305 | 0 | 1986 |
| [Marshall Exemption](/search.md) permit 142479- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 144 | 7 | 1986 |
| [Highlands](/search.md) permit 134311- | Well Constructed | Stock | 205 | 0 | 1984 |
| [Horsefly](/search.md) permit 137514- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 235 | 0 | 1984 |
| [Pleasant Valley Slope (filing: 1)](/search.md) permit 130023- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 240 | 12 | 1983 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 126415- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 10 | 0 | 1984 |
| [Vogellar](/search.md) permit 122503- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 740 | 10 | 1980 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 121868- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 65 | 3 | 1981 |
| [Moorehead](/search.md) permit 104777- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 1979 |
| [Miller](/search.md) permit 106227- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 640 | 0 | 1979 |
| [Pleasant Valley Slope (filing: 1)](/search.md) permit 99365- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 240 | 8 | 1978 |
| [Moorehead](/search.md) permit 100462- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 485 | 2 | 1978 |
| [Idlewild Estates 3](/search.md) permit 102927- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 210 | 13 | 1978 |
| [Hudson](/search.md) permit 73691- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 15 | 1976 |
| [Portland Townsite of](/search.md) permit 68154- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 15 | 1973 |
| [Beaver Meadows](/search.md) permit 70800- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 11 | 15 | 1973 |
| [Hudson](/search.md) permit 71753- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 84 | 15 | 1974 |
| [Idlewind](/search.md) permit 64698- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 76 | 0 | 1974 |
| [Application Parcel Name Missing](/search.md) permit 65008- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 34 | 0 | 1972 |
| [Colona](/search.md) permit 477-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 52 | 0 | 1953 |
| [Old Dallas Townsite](/search.md) permit 21625- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 61 | 0 | 1964 |
| [Subdivision 5](/search.md) permit 48414- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 115 | 0 | 1971 |
| [Application Parcel Name Missing](/search.md) permit 86812- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 150 | 0 | — |
| [Idlewild Estates](/search.md) permit 121804- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 160 | 0 | 1982 |
| [Pleasant Valley Slope (filing: 1)](/search.md) permit 129797- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 0 | 1983 |
| [Application Parcel Name Missing](/search.md) permit 140026- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 110 | 1 | 1964 |
| [Coya/ms18424](/search.md) permit 342976- | Permit Issued | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 2026 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 343442- | Permit Issued | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2026 |
| [Idlewild Estates](/search.md) permit 339809- | Permit Issued | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 2025 |
| [Highlands](/search.md) permit 340136- | Pump Installed, No Construction Info Received | Domestic | 0 | 15 | 2025 |
| [Highlands](/search.md) permit 333935- | Permit Canceled | Monitoring/sampling | 190 | 0 | 2024 |
| [Highlands](/search.md) permit 333936- | Permit Expired | Monitoring/sampling | 0 | 0 | 2024 |
| [Loghill Crest](/search.md) permit 331026- | Permit Extended | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2023 |
| [Ranch At Kettle Creek](/search.md) permit 327400- | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2022 |
| [Pleasant Valley Slope #1](/search.md) permit 322193- | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2021 |
| [Horsefly Tracts](/search.md) permit 306338- | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2017 |
| [Lake Lenore](/search.md) permit 303555- | Permit Expired | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
| [Piedmont](/search.md) permit 28-GX | NA | Geothermal | 240 | 0 | 2007 |

### Counties with a comparable register

- [Phillips](/county/phillips.md) 2,865
- [Lake](/county/lake.md) 2,756
- [Bent](/county/bent.md) 2,362
- [Sedgwick](/county/sedgwick.md) 2,293
- [Cheyenne](/county/cheyenne.md) 2,133
- [Montezuma](/county/montezuma.md) 2,111
- [Jackson](/county/jackson.md) 1,625
- [Mineral](/county/mineral.md) 1,539
- [Kiowa](/county/kiowa.md) 1,434
- [Hinsdale](/county/hinsdale.md) 1,273
- [Broomfield](/county/broomfield.md) 1,127
- [Crowley](/county/crowley.md) 1,099
- [Dolores](/county/dolores.md) 604

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](/county.md).

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Página: https://wells-co.pages.dev/county/ouray/
Fonte: Well Application Permit — Colorado Division of Water Resources
Recolha: 2026-08-21