H.R. 5911: Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

This bill, titled the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act, aims to transfer ownership of certain federal land and water rights related to Crystal Reservoir in Ouray, Colorado, from the United States government to the City of Ouray. The key components of the bill include:

Conveyance of Land and Water Rights

The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey:

• All rights and interests the U.S. government holds in the federal land, which includes:
• Crystal Reservoir and its associated lake
• Full Moon Dam and its related facilities, such as the spillway and outlet
• Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10
• All infrastructure associated with the reservoir
• A parcel of approximately 45 acres of land surrounding Crystal Reservoir, which is managed by the Forest Service for maintenance and access purposes.
• All water rights related to the above-mentioned federal land.

Conditions for Conveyance

The transfer of land and water rights will happen:

• Via a quitclaim deed at no cost to the City, except for costs related to any required surveys.
• Subject to existing rights and certain conditions to ensure future use complies with specified regulations.

Responsibilities of the City of Ouray

Upon receiving the lands and water rights, the City is required to:

• Grant an easement to the Secretary of Agriculture for any trails or roads previously existing on the land.
• Assume responsibility for all repairs, operations, and maintenance of Full Moon Dam and associated infrastructure.
• Maintain the federal land as open space for public recreational access, including fishing, without charging fees.
• Not conduct any commercial development on the land except for maintenance of the reservoir and its infrastructure.
• Not expand the reservoir in ways that would negatively impact nearby wetlands, although deepening the reservoir in line with existing water rights is permitted.

Water Rights Management

The City is authorized to use Crystal Reservoir for:

• The storage of water and in-reservoir uses, pursuant to Colorado water laws.
• The release of water for various beneficial uses, consistent with applicable water rights.

Other Provisions

The bill includes provisions for:

• Allowing the City to undertake repair efforts on Full Moon Dam prior to the actual transfer of ownership, subject to Secretary approval.
• Finalizing a map and legal description of the conveyed land, which must be available for public inspection.
• A reversion clause, whereby if the City fails to adhere to the terms of the conveyance, the land may revert back to the United States.

Relevant Companies

None found