HR 5911
Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act
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Bill overview
The Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act directs the Forest Service to transfer ownership of specific land and water rights in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray. This includes the Crystal Reservoir site, Full Moon Dam, and associated infrastructure, along with water rights necessary for operation. The transfer will occur at no cost to the public, but the city will be responsible for maintaining the dam and ensuring the reservoir’s wetlands are protected. A perpetual easement for Red Mountain Ditch will also be established.
Key provisions
- The Forest Service will convey federal land and water rights to the City of Ouray.
- The conveyance includes Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam, and related infrastructure.
- The City assumes responsibility for the operation and maintenance of Full Moon Dam.
- The City must maintain the land as open space for recreational activities like fishing.
- The City cannot conduct development or commercial operations on the land except for dam maintenance.
- The City must protect wetlands upstream of the reservoir.
- A perpetual easement for Red Mountain Ditch will be established.
- The City will manage water rights associated with the land according to Colorado water law.
Who is affected
- The City of Ouray, Colorado
- The Forest Service
- Residents of Ouray County, Colorado
- Colorado Water Law Users
- Recreational Users
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5911
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the City of Ouray, Colorado, certain land managed by the Forest Service, together with a reservoir.
This Act may be cited as the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act
.
The term City means the City of Ouray, Colorado.
The term Federal land means—
the site known as Crystal Reservoir
in Ouray County, Colorado, including—
the lake associated with that reservoir;
all infrastructure associated with the reservoir; and
The term Map means the map prepared by the Forest Service entitled Crystal Reservoir Conveyance
and dated June 23, 2025.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
all water rights associated with the Federal land, including the Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10 water rights described in the decree of the State of Colorado in Civil Action No. 1959, dated May 11, 1942.
The conveyance under subsection (b) shall be—
made by quitclaim deed;
subject to—
the reversionary interest described in subsection (e)(3); and
except as provided in subsection (d)(2), completed at no cost to the City.
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance under subsection (b).
The City shall pay all costs associated with any surveys conducted for the purpose of accomplishing the conveyance under subsection (b).
As a condition of the conveyance of the Federal land under subsection (b), the City shall agree—
to grant to the Secretary an easement for each trail and road in existence on the date of the conveyance that, as determined by the Secretary, originates at, terminates at, or traverses the Federal land;
effective beginning on the date of the conveyance, to assume responsibility for the costs of all repairs, operations, and maintenance of Full Moon Dam and related infrastructure, including Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10;
to maintain the Federal land in perpetuity as open space, to be held open—
not to conduct on the Federal land any development, commercial operations, or construction, other than as needed for the operation and maintenance of Full Moon Dam, Crystal Reservoir, and related infrastructure, including Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10; and
not to expand the historical footprint of Crystal Reservoir in a manner that would flood, impair, or harm any wetlands located upstream of the Federal land, subject to the condition that deepening Crystal Reservoir in a manner consistent with the water rights of the City shall be allowed.
The conveyance under subsection (b) shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
If the Federal land conveyed under subsection (b) ceases to be used in accordance with the terms and conditions under this subsection, the Federal land shall revert to the United States, at the discretion of the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that reversion is in the best interest of the United States.
After the conveyance under subsection (b), the Secretary shall allow the structure located near the Federal land commonly known as Red Mountain Ditch
, located near Red Mountain Pass, to continue to be used by the City for all decreed purposes under Colorado water law, including the diversion and delivery of water for storage in Crystal Reservoir.
Subject to paragraph (2), the City may use Crystal Reservoir for—
storage of water and in-reservoir uses, consistent with any water rights; or
The City shall manage all water rights associated with the Federal land in accordance with applicable water laws of the State of Colorado.
Nothing in this section prohibits the City from making any expenditure for repair of Full Moon Dam or any other feature of the Federal land before the date of the conveyance under subsection (b), subject to the approval of the Secretary.
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the Map and a legal description of the Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (b).
The Secretary and the City, by mutual agreement, may correct any minor errors in the Map or legal description under paragraph (1).
The Map and legal description under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in each appropriate office of the Forest Service.