Hickenlooper, Bennet, Hurd Celebrate Committee Passage of Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

Legislation now heads to Senate floor for full vote

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Micheal Bennet and U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd celebrated the unanimous passage of their bipartisan Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill transfers ownership of the Crystal Reservoir and the associated dam and water infrastructure from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to the City of Ouray.

"Ouray can unlock the potential of the Crystal Reservoir if we get this bill across the finish line," said Hickenlooper. "Communities like Ouray deserve to have control over their own water resources. It'll boost recreation, make local water supplies more resilient, and help fight future wildfires."

"The Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act is a common-sense piece of legislation that will protect Ouray's water supply and a beloved recreation asset for future generations," said Bennet. "This week's bipartisan vote is an important step forward, and I'll keep working to get this bill signed into law."

"For too long, the people of Ouray have had to look at an empty reservoir that should be serving their community," said Hurd. "Crystal Reservoir has the potential to support local water needs, strengthen wildfire response, benefit agriculture, and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Moving the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act forward is an important step toward returning this resource to local control, where the people who know the community best can make the decisions that shape its future. I'm grateful to Chairman Lee and the members of the committee for advancing this legislation, and I'll keep working with my colleagues in the Senate to see this bill signed into law so Crystal Reservoir can once again serve the people of Ouray for generations to come."

The bill would give approximately 45 acres of federal land, including the Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam, and Full Moon Ditch, to the City of Ouray. The transfer of ownership would occur at no cost to the City, in exchange for its assumption of responsibility for the operations, maintenance, and repairs of the Full Moon Dam and Full Moon Ditch. The deal prohibits commercial development on the property, requires compliance with Colorado water law, and maintains public access to the reservoir and nearby trails for outdoor recreation and wildland fire response.

The full bill is available HERE. The map of areas included in the bill can be found HERE. Letters of support can be found HERE.

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