Well permits in Rio Grande County
9,833 well permits — 1.6% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 100 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
9,833Permits
100 ftMedian depth
1,168Expired
0Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Rio Grande 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 | 100 ft | 315 ft | 148 ft — shallower here (7,329 permits, 75 %) |
| Yield | 15 gpm | 1000 gpm | 10 gpm — higher here (2,217 permits, 23 %) |
| Static water level | 20 ft | 94 ft | 58 ft — lower here (5,349 permits, 54 %) |
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 | 4,314 | 43.9% |
| Irrigation | 2,407 | 24.5% |
| Household Use Only | 1,399 | 14.2% |
| Commercial | 492 | 5.0% |
| Monitoring/sampling | 431 | 4.4% |
| Not stated | 279 | 2.8% |
| Stock | 269 | 2.7% |
| Other | 99 | 1.0% |
| Municipal | 53 | 0.5% |
| Fire | 43 | 0.4% |
| Industrial | 33 | 0.3% |
| Fishery | 5 | 0.1% |
What happened to these permits
6,370 of the 9,833 permits in Rio Grande County ended with a well the Division was told about — 64.8%. And 1,168 expired without one: 11.9%.
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 | 6,370 | 64.8% |
| Permit Expired | 1,168 | 11.9% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 591 | 6.0% |
| Well Abandoned | 440 | 4.5% |
| Permit Canceled | 437 | 4.4% |
| Permit Issued | 360 | 3.7% |
| Application Denied | 167 | 1.7% |
| Application Information Requested | 97 | 1.0% |
| Application Received | 89 | 0.9% |
| Well Constructed - Replacement Permit Issued | 31 | 0.3% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 7,468 | 75.9% |
| Unconfined San Luis Vall | 773 | 7.9% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 664 | 6.8% |
| Confined San Luis Valley | 517 | 5.3% |
| Confined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 269 | 2.7% |
| Not stated | 77 | 0.8% |
| Alluvial | 48 | 0.5% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley | 13 | 0.1% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 3 | 0.0% |
| Dawson | 1 | 0.0% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 826 | 8.4% |
| 2010s | 725 | 7.4% |
| 2000s | 1,670 | 17.0% |
| 1990s | 1,518 | 15.4% |
| 1980s | 705 | 7.2% |
| 1970s | 1,348 | 13.7% |
| 1960s | 426 | 4.3% |
| 1950s | 500 | 5.1% |
| 1940s | 1 | 0.0% |
Buying land in Rio Grande County, or need a well drilled?
9,833 well permits are on the Division’s register in Rio Grande County, 1,168 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 Rio Grande County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Vista permit 341773- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 680 | 10 | 2026 |
| Rimrock Ranch permit 341772- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2026 |
| Highland Meadows permit 90593-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 57 | 0 | 2026 |
| Hanna Ranch Bluff permit 341863- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 500 | 0 | 2026 |
| The Reserve At River Island Ranch permit 90648-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 58 | 0 | 2026 |
| Alpine Village permit 342296- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 365 | 0 | 2026 |
| English Valley Ranch permit 342268- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 205 | 0 | 2026 |
| English Valley Ranch permit 342269- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 605 | 0 | 2026 |
| Mill Creek Ranches & Million Ranchettes permit 90558-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 83 | 0 | 1985 |
| Mill Creek Ranches & Million Ranchettes permit 90559-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 91 | 0 | 1992 |
| Mill Creek Ranches & Million Ranchettes permit 90561-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 76 | 0 | 2002 |
| Mill Creek Ranches & Million Ranchettes permit 90560-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 0 | 2002 |
| Alpine Village permit 337692- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 58 | 10 | 2025 |
| Cornwall (jasper) permit 89789-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 0 | 2025 |
| Willow Park (filing: 4) permit 338304- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 420 | 10 | 2025 |
| River Front At South Fork Ranches permit 89891-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 500 | 0 | 2025 |
| Willow Park (filing: 1) permit 89896-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 224 | 0 | 2025 |
| Willow Park (filing: 3) permit 89942-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 325 | 0 | 2025 |
| Pronghorn Ranch permit 339421- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 260 | 0 | 2025 |
| Alpine Village #1 permit 142173--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 895 | 7 | 2025 |
| Willow Bend (filing: 1) permit 90134-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 78 | 0 | 2025 |
| Rancho Del Rio permit 90149-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 59 | 0 | 2025 |
| Hidden Springs Estates permit 90273-F | Well Constructed | Municipal | 40 | 0 | 1987 |
| Hidden Springs Estates permit 90272-F | Well Constructed | Municipal | 45 | 0 | 1987 |
| Alpine Village #5 (filing: 5) permit 340620- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 60 | 0 | 2025 |
| Willow Park (filing: 3) permit 90269-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 139 | 0 | 2025 |
| Pinon Hill Ranches permit 341000- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 345 | 0 | 2025 |
| Bear Creek South Fork Ranches At (filing: 2) permit 90337-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 325 | 0 | 2025 |
| Masonic Park permit 90448-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 405 | 7 | 2025 |
| Alpine Vista permit 332934- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 7 | 2024 |
| Pronghorn Ranch (filing: 2) permit 333299- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 405 | 10 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village #5 permit 333301- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 125 | 0 | 2024 |
| River Island Ranch permit 89290-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 205 | 0 | 2024 |
| Sdkb Minor Subdivision permit 89070-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 325 | 0 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village permit 334171- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 260 | 10 | 2024 |
| Pronghorn Ranch permit 334974- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 440 | 10 | 2024 |
| Del Rio Ranchettes permit 89195-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 80 | 15 | 2024 |
| Masonic Park permit 334853- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 80 | 10 | 2024 |
| Pinon View Estates permit 89289-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 205 | 10 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village permit 150646--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 805 | 0 | 2024 |
| Alpine Vista Extension permit 335430- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 505 | 0 | 2024 |
| Alpine Vilalge (filing: 4) permit 335804- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 505 | 0 | 2024 |
| Elk Creek (ranch) permit 89514-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 445 | 0 | 2024 |
| Highland Meadows permit 89539-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 60 | 18 | 2024 |
| Cotten permit 101719--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 230 | 0 | 2024 |
| Highland Meadows permit 89566-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 58 | 0 | 2025 |
| Bear Creek South Fork Ranches At (filing: 2) permit 89567-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 300 | 11 | 2023 |
| San Francisco Creek Ranch permit 336691- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 0 | 2025 |
| Rimrock Ranch permit 336641- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 6 | 2024 |
| Masonic Park permit 329660- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 320 | 10 | 2023 |
| Del Rio Ranchettes permit 87741-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 60 | 10 | 2023 |
| Cornwall Town of permit 87917-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village #1 permit 329888- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 605 | 0 | 2023 |
| Willow Bend (filing: 2) permit 87906-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 78 | 0 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village #7 (filing: 7) permit 330007- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 80 | 10 | 2024 |
| Cornwall (jasper) permit 330323- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 0 | 2024 |
| Pronghorn Ranch permit 330319- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 705 | 0 | 2023 |
| River Island Ranch permit 330220- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 405 | 0 | 2023 |
| Willow Park Ranch (filing: 4) permit 88224-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 224 | 0 | 2025 |
| Jasper permit 88051-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 0 | 2024 |
| Rimrock Ranch permit 330370- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 10 | 2024 |
| Masonic Park permit 330517- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 320 | 10 | 2023 |
| Rimrock Ranches (filing: 2) permit 330428- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 480 | 10 | 2025 |
| Alpine Vista permit 331021- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 700 | 7 | 2024 |
| River Dance Ranch permit 88511-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 60 | 12 | 2024 |
| Pronghorn Ranch (filing: 3) permit 330702- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 365 | 15 | 2023 |
| South Fork Ranchos permit 88483-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 80 | 10 | 2023 |
| Alpine Vista permit 330900- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 805 | 0 | 2023 |
| Pinon Hill Ranches permit 330987- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 600 | 0 | 2023 |
| Pinon View Estates permit 88334-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 205 | 10 | 2023 |
| Cornwall (jasper) permit 332057- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 0 | 2024 |
| Mill Creek Ranches permit 88556-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 10 | 2024 |
| Mill Creek Ranches permit 88555-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 15 | 2023 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 1) permit 88596-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 320 | 0 | 2024 |
| Pronghorn Ranch permit 332236- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 325 | 0 | 2023 |
| Pronghorn Ranch permit 332293- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 0 | 2023 |
| Agua Ramon Meadows permit 332458- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 325 | 0 | 2023 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 4) permit 86668-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 1000 | 0 | 2022 |
| Alpine Vista permit 133412--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 820 | 15 | 2022 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 4) permit 86557-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 880 | 7 | 2022 |
| Masonic Park permit 326069- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 240 | 10 | 2022 |
| Alpine Village #5 permit 326146- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 77 | 0 | 2022 |
| Alpine Village permit 179956--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 0 | 2022 |
| Horseshoe Mt. Ranch Estates permit 326982- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 620 | 0 | 2022 |
| Alpine Village #7 permit 327218- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 705 | 0 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village #7 permit 327219- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 705 | 0 | 2024 |
| Alpine Village #5 permit 327221- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 77 | 0 | 2022 |
| Chapel Hill Haciendas permit 87080-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 500 | 0 | 2022 |
| Highland Meadows permit 87093-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 60 | 0 | 2024 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 3) permit 87157-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 800 | 0 | 2022 |
| Embargo Creek Ranches permit 327425- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 420 | 0 | 2022 |
| Willow Bend (filing: 1) permit 87150-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 58 | 15 | 2023 |
| Alpine Village permit 132992--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 300 | 15 | 2022 |
| Rimrock Ranch permit 327252- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 640 | 10 | 2023 |
| Hidden Springs Estates permit 180104--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 720 | 7 | 2022 |
| Alpine Village permit 96206--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 600 | 1.5 | 2022 |
| Highland Meadows permit 87198-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 57 | 0 | 2023 |
| Alpine Vista permit 119756--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 440 | 0 | 2022 |
| Hidden Valley Estates permit 87308-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 15 | 0 | 1981 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 4) permit 87353-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 1000 | 0 | 2022 |
| Pinion Hills Ranch permit 328636- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 600 | 6 | 2023 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 1) permit 87511-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 510 | 3 | 2001 |
| Willow Park (filing: 3) permit 85039-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 500 | 0 | 2021 |
| Garriott Division of Land permit 85258-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 39 | 0 | 1982 |
| Willow Park (filing: 3) permit 85198-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 200 | 10 | 2021 |
| Bear Creek (filing: 3) permit 85199-F | Well Constructed | Domestic | 805 | 15 | 2021 |
| Chapel Hills Haciendas permit 85322-F | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 325 | 15 | 2021 |
| Hidden Valley Estates permit 321032- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 290 | 15 | 2021 |
| Alpine Village #5 permit 321360- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 405 | 0 | 2021 |
| Alpine Village #5 permit 321361- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 70 | 15 | 2021 |
By decreed use in Rio Grande County
- Domestic in Rio Grande County — 4,314
- Household Use Only in Rio Grande County — 1,399
- Irrigation in Rio Grande County — 2,407
Counties with a comparable register
- Yuma 12,410
- Garfield 12,165
- Grand 11,297
- Teller 10,843
- Fremont 10,353
- Chaffee 10,321
- Alamosa 10,088
- Morgan 9,779
- Logan 9,308
- Gunnison 8,894
- Saguache 8,803
- Summit 8,609
- Las Animas 8,050
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.