H.R. 5911 · Passed House · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

Sponsor: Jeff Hurd (R-CO)

What it does

• Direct the Forest Service to convey fee simple title of Crystal Reservoir property and water rights in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray at no cost to the city, except for survey expenses.
• Require the City of Ouray to assume responsibility for Full Moon Dam and maintain the property as open space for recreational activities including fishing.
• Impose a reversionary interest whereby the land reverts to the United States if the city uses it in violation of the conveyance terms or conducts unneeded development or commercial operations.
• Require the Forest Service to recognize a perpetual easement for Red Mountain Ditch for the city's use in specified activities related to Crystal Reservoir operations.

Official summary

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act This bill directs the Forest Service to convey specified property and water rights in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray, Colorado, for use as open space for recreational activities (such as fishing) at no cost to the public. The property and water rights include the site known as Crystal Reservoir and the associated lake and infrastructure, Full Moon Dam and the associated facilities, and the approximately 45-acre parcel of land underlying and surrounding Crystal Reservoir. The conveyance must (1) convey fee simple title to the land; (2) be subject to existing valid rights and easements; and (3) be completed at no cost to the city, except for costs related to necessary surveys. The conveyance must also be subject to a reversionary interest whereby if the land is used in a manner that violates the conveyance, the land shall revert to the United States, subject to the discretion of the Forest Service. In addition to holding the land open to the public for recreational purposes, the city must assume responsibly for Full Moon Dam and must not conduct unneeded development or commercial operations, nor alter Crystal Reservoir in a manner that…

Latest action

Jun 3, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources