Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

The Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer specific federal land and associated water rights to the City of Ouray, Colorado. This transfer includes the Crystal Reservoir site, encompassing the lake, Full Moon Dam, related infrastructure like the spillway and outlet, Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10, and approximately 45 acres of surrounding land managed by the Forest Service. All water rights linked to this federal land, including those for Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10, are also part of the conveyance. The conveyance will be made by quitclaim deed, generally at no cost to the City, though the City is responsible for survey costs. As conditions of the transfer, the City must grant the Secretary easements for existing trails and roads, assume all costs for the repair, operation, and maintenance of Full Moon Dam and related infrastructure, and maintain the land in perpetuity as open space for full public recreational access without fees. Furthermore, the City is prohibited from conducting development, commercial operations, or construction beyond what is necessary for the operation and maintenance of the dam and reservoir, and cannot expand the reservoir's footprint in a way that harms upstream wetlands. If these terms are not met, the land may revert to the United States at the Secretary's discretion.