Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
In Committee
Summary
Conveys Crystal Reservoir and its associated federal water rights to the City of Ouray. The bill would attach public-access, maintenance, and water-management conditions to that transfer.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Transfer of Crystal Reservoir and Rights
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey, as soon as practicable after enactment, by quitclaim deed to the City of Ouray the Federal land known as Crystal Reservoir. The conveyance would include Full Moon Dam, Full Moon Ditch, Reservoir Number 10, about 45 acres shown on a Forest Service map dated June 23, 2025, and all water rights tied to that land, including rights in the May 11, 1942 Colorado decree. The transfer would be subject to valid existing rights and a U.S. reversionary interest, and the Secretary would pay conveyance costs except that the City would pay for any surveys. The bill would also require the Secretary to finalize the map and legal description and to allow the City to keep using the Red Mountain Ditch for its decreed Colorado water-law purposes after conveyance.
City upkeep, public access, and limits
If enacted, the bill would require the City of Ouray, starting on the conveyance date, to pay all costs for repairs, operations, and maintenance of Full Moon Dam and related infrastructure, including Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10. The City would have to keep the conveyed land forever as open space and allow full public recreational access, including fishing, with no fee for recreational access. The City would be barred from development or commercial operations on the land except for dam and infrastructure operation and maintenance, and it could not expand the reservoir's historical footprint in ways that would flood or harm upstream wetlands (deepening is allowed only if consistent with the City's water rights).
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
CO • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov