HR 5911: Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

HR 5911 in plain English: This bill directs the U.S. Forest Service to transfer Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam, and approximately 45 acres of surrounding land in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray at no cost for use as public open space and recreation. The city must keep the land open to the public, maintain the dam, and avoid development that harms upstream wetlands, with the land reverting to federal ownership if these conditions are violated.

Stated purpose

This bill directs the U.S. Forest Service to transfer Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam, surrounding land of about 45 acres, and associated water rights in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray at no cost to the city, so the land can be kept as free public open space for recreational activities like fishing.

Key points

• Transfers Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam, and about 45 acres of land to the City of Ouray at no cost
• City must keep the land open to the public for recreational uses such as fishing
• City assumes responsibility for maintaining Full Moon Dam
• Prohibits commercial development or changes that would harm upstream wetlands
• Grants the city a permanent easement for the Red Mountain Ditch to support reservoir operations

Arguments supporters make

• Transferring the land to the local city puts management in the hands of people who know and use it best, likely leading to better upkeep and more responsive stewardship than distant federal management.
• Making the land permanently free and open for public recreation like fishing preserves a community asset for everyone, without charging taxpayers or visitors for access.
• The reversionary clause means the federal government can reclaim the land if the city misuses it, so the public interest is protected even after the transfer.

Arguments opponents make

• Transferring federal public land to a city removes it from national ownership, and future local decisions — even within the rules — may not fully reflect the interests of all Americans who could use or value that land.
• The city inherits full financial responsibility for dam maintenance and regulatory compliance, which could become a significant and unpredictable burden on local taxpayers over time.
• Strict limits on development and commercial use may prevent the city from generating any revenue to offset those maintenance costs, creating a long-term fiscal strain with no relief valve.

Tradeoffs

The bill trades federal ownership and control of a public natural asset for local stewardship and guaranteed free public access, while shifting all ongoing maintenance costs and liability from the federal government to a small city, which may lack the resources to handle them over the long term.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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