Well permits in Saguache County
8,803 well permits — 1.5% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 120 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
8,803Permits
120 ftMedian depth
1,240Expired
0Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Saguache 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 | 120 ft | 400 ft | 148 ft — shallower here (5,850 permits, 66 %) |
| Yield | 15 gpm | 1000 gpm | 10 gpm — higher here (1,731 permits, 20 %) |
| Static water level | 19 ft | 151 ft | 58 ft — lower here (3,873 permits, 44 %) |
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 | 3,063 | 34.8% |
| Irrigation | 2,476 | 28.1% |
| Household Use Only | 939 | 10.7% |
| Monitoring/sampling | 694 | 7.9% |
| Stock | 656 | 7.5% |
| Other | 297 | 3.4% |
| Commercial | 268 | 3.0% |
| Not stated | 229 | 2.6% |
| Municipal | 133 | 1.5% |
| Industrial | 19 | 0.2% |
| Fire | 16 | 0.2% |
| Augmentation | 9 | 0.1% |
What happened to these permits
5,362 of the 8,803 permits in Saguache County ended with a well the Division was told about — 60.9%. And 1,240 expired without one: 14.1%.
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 | 5,362 | 60.9% |
| Permit Expired | 1,240 | 14.1% |
| Application Denied | 513 | 5.8% |
| Permit Canceled | 388 | 4.4% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 363 | 4.1% |
| Permit Issued | 341 | 3.9% |
| Well Abandoned | 304 | 3.5% |
| Application Received | 114 | 1.3% |
| Application Information Requested | 81 | 0.9% |
| Well Constructed - Replacement Permit Issued | 31 | 0.4% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 6,314 | 71.7% |
| Unconfined San Luis Vall | 862 | 9.8% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 758 | 8.6% |
| Confined San Luis Valley Aquifer | 408 | 4.6% |
| Confined San Luis Valley | 340 | 3.9% |
| Not stated | 67 | 0.8% |
| Unconfined San Luis Valley | 25 | 0.3% |
| Alluvial | 16 | 0.2% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 7 | 0.1% |
| Confining Layer | 2 | 0.0% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 782 | 8.9% |
| 2010s | 913 | 10.4% |
| 2000s | 1,121 | 12.7% |
| 1990s | 1,591 | 18.1% |
| 1980s | 623 | 7.1% |
| 1970s | 1,062 | 12.1% |
| 1960s | 289 | 3.3% |
| 1950s | 324 | 3.7% |
| 1940s | 1 | 0.0% |
Buying land in Saguache County, or need a well drilled?
8,803 well permits are on the Division’s register in Saguache County, 1,240 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.
Permits on record in Saguache County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lime Creek permit 341965- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 303 | 0 | 2026 |
| Town of Crestone permit 337017- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 10 | 2025 |
| La Garita Ranchettes permit 337598- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 320 | 15 | 2025 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 337845- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 420 | 3 | 2025 |
| Cotton Creek Estates permit 338175- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 15 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 338217- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 150 | 0 | 2025 |
| Dageford permit 338303- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 340 | 0 | 2025 |
| Dageford permit 338302- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 220 | 12 | 2025 |
| Dageford permit 338301- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 575 | 7 | 2025 |
| La Garita Ranchettes permit 338515- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 243 | 0 | 1998 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 338461- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 338925- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 12 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande permit 339416- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 140 | 0 | 2023 |
| Bonanza permit 340999- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 341281- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 0 | 2025 |
| Kerber Creek permit 341416- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 85 | 0 | 1976 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 341665- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 180 | 0 | 2026 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 158192-A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 15 | 2026 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 333778- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2024 |
| New Survey permit 335103- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 0 | 2024 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 333305- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 318 | 12 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande permit 334973- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 130 | 0 | 2024 |
| Ewing Ranch Iii permit 334172- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 160 | 15 | 2025 |
| Irby Eisenhower Exemption permit 333865- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 220 | 0 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 334559- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 130 | 0 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande permit 333994- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 10 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande permit 334977- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 10 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 335024- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 0 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 334459- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 130 | 10 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 334458- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants Unit 1 permit 334856- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande permit 334976- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 130 | 10 | 2024 |
| Sargents Town of permit 286109--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 320 | 0 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 335243- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 130 | 15 | 2024 |
| Sargents Town of permit 80245--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 200 | 0 | 2024 |
| Sargents Town of permit 324143--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 180 | 0 | 2024 |
| Mineral Hot Sprgs Estates permit 335275- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 10 | 2026 |
| Sargents permit 275356--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 335985- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 0 | 2025 |
| Scenic Mountain Estates permit 329873- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 10 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande permit 329954- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 10 | 2024 |
| Persky Subdivision permit 240725--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 180 | 10 | 2023 |
| Cortese Tracts Subdivision permit 329815- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 180 | 0 | 2023 |
| Kelly Creek Ranch permit 329860- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 300 | 0 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande Grants Unit 1 permit 329886- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 95 | 12 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 330369- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 10 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 330732- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2024 |
| Dageforde permit 331721- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 395 | 9 | 2024 |
| Elk Mountain Springs permit 331810- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 190 | 0 | 2006 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 331004- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 160 | 0 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 330848- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2024 |
| Gold Basin High Country Ranch permit 330997- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 240 | 0 | 2024 |
| Sargent Knights permit 323372--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 175 | 0 | 2024 |
| Crestone, Town of permit 331590- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 80 | 0 | 2024 |
| Elk Mountain Springs permit 332102- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 3 | 2023 |
| Ghost Mine Ranch permit 332296- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 0 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 332297- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 14 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 325114- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 10 | 2022 |
| Little Kerber Creek permit 325178- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 325 | 15 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 325816- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2025 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 325832- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande permit 326281- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 115 | 10 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 170750--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2022 |
| Ghost Mine Ranch permit 326284- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 400 | 0 | 2022 |
| Mineral Hot Springs Estates permit 326712- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 0 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 326714- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2023 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 327468- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 327312- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 90 | 0 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 327396- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 10 | 2022 |
| Bonanaza Ranch permit 327558- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 185 | 14 | 2023 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 327563- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 340 | 0 | 2023 |
| Oxcart Ranch permit 328194- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 90 | 15 | 2023 |
| Meadow Ranch permit 87467-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 0 | 0 | 1954 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 328534- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 130 | 10 | 2024 |
| Baca Grande permit 329047- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 160 | 0 | 2024 |
| Ghost Mine Ranch permit 320085- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 10 | 2021 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 320148- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 240 | 10 | 2021 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 320150- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2022 |
| Lime Creek Estates permit 133613--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 325 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 320832- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 200 | 10 | 2021 |
| Reigel Division of Land permit 219093--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 600 | 0 | 2021 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 322405- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 177592--A | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 260 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ghost Mine Ranch permit 322433- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 0 | 2021 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 322444- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 120 | 10 | 2022 |
| Villa Grove permit 324680- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 322911- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 325 | 0 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 323562- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 100 | 10 | 2022 |
| Ewing Ranch Iv (filing: 4) permit 324185- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 405 | 4 | 2023 |
| Villa Grove permit 323791- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2021 |
| Villa Grove permit 324179- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ghost Mine Ranch permit 323560- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 640 | 15 | 2022 |
| Ewing Range Mishak Lakes permit 324081- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 200 | 0 | 1914 |
| La Garita Ranchettes permit 324461- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 265 | 15 | 2022 |
| La Garita Creek Ranchettes permit 324540- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 205 | 15 | 2022 |
| Villa Grove permit 324679- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 140 | 0 | 2019 |
| Villa Grove permit 324731- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 0 | 2021 |
| Oklahoma Land & Colonization Tracts permit 317530- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 400 | 10 | 2022 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 317640- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 240 | 10 | 2020 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 317717- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 130 | 15 | 2020 |
| Villa Grove, Town of permit 317718- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 1964 |
| Baca Grande Grants permit 318074- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 140 | 10 | 2023 |
| South Beaver Creek Ranch permit 317650- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 160 | 15 | 2021 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 317924- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 240 | 0 | 2021 |
| Gold Basin High Country Ranch permit 318054- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 240 | 0 | 2020 |
| Ghost Mine Ranch permit 318645- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 360 | 0 | 2021 |
| Dageford permit 318648- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 265 | 0 | 2021 |
| Ewing Ranch permit 62733--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 280 | 0 | 2020 |
| Gold Basin High Country Ranch permit 318809- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 625 | 0 | 2022 |
| Moffat permit 319013- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 80 | 15 | 2020 |
By decreed use in Saguache County
- Domestic in Saguache County — 3,063
- Irrigation in Saguache County — 2,476
Counties with a comparable register
- Fremont 10,353
- Chaffee 10,321
- Alamosa 10,088
- Rio Grande 9,833
- Morgan 9,779
- Logan 9,308
- Gunnison 8,894
- Summit 8,609
- Las Animas 8,050
- Routt 7,264
- Custer 6,916
- Kit Carson 6,777
- Mesa 6,494
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.