[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2754 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2754
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the City of Ouray,
Colorado, certain land managed by the Forest Service, together with a
reservoir.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 10, 2025
Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the City of Ouray,
Colorado, certain land managed by the Forest Service, together with a
reservoir.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND TO OURAY, COLORADO.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) City.--The term ``City'' means the City of Ouray,
Colorado.
(2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
(A) the site known as ``Crystal Reservoir'' in
Ouray County, Colorado, including--
(i) the lake associated with that
reservoir;
(ii) Full Moon Dam and associated
facilities, including the spillway and outlet;
(iii) Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number
10; and
(iv) all infrastructure associated with the
reservoir; and
(B) the parcel comprising approximately 45 acres of
land underlying and surrounding Crystal Reservoir, as
depicted on the Map, managed by the Forest Service as
necessary for access for repair, operation, and
maintenance of Crystal Reservoir and the features
described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph
(A).
(3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map prepared by the
Forest Service entitled ``Crystal Reservoir Conveyance'' and
dated June 23, 2025.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the City--
(1) all right, title, and interest of the United States in
and to the Federal land; and
(2) all water rights associated with the Federal land,
including the Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10 water
rights described in the decree of the State of Colorado in
Civil Action No. 1959, dated May 11, 1942.
(c) Requirements.--The conveyance under subsection (b) shall be--
(1) made by quitclaim deed;
(2) subject to--
(A) valid existing rights; and
(B) the reversionary interest described in
subsection (e)(3); and
(3) except as provided in subsection (d)(2), completed at
no cost to the City.
(d) Costs.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance
under subsection (b).
(2) Survey.--The City shall pay all costs associated with
any surveys conducted for the purpose of accomplishing the
conveyance under subsection (b).
(e) Terms and Conditions.--
(1) In general.--As a condition of the conveyance of the
Federal land under subsection (b), the City shall agree--
(A) to grant to the Secretary an easement for each
trail and road in existence on the date of the
conveyance that, as determined by the Secretary,
originates at, terminates at, or traverses the Federal
land;
(B) effective beginning on the date of the
conveyance, to assume responsibility for the costs of
all repairs, operations, and maintenance of Full Moon
Dam and related infrastructure, including Full Moon
Ditch and Reservoir Number 10;
(C) to maintain the Federal land in perpetuity as
open space, to be held open--
(i) for full public access for recreational
activities, including fishing; and
(ii) not subject to any fee for
recreational access;
(D) not to conduct on the Federal land any
development, commercial operations, or construction,
other than as needed for the operation and maintenance
of Full Moon Dam, Crystal Reservoir, and related
infrastructure, including Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir
Number 10; and
(E) not to expand the historical footprint of
Crystal Reservoir in a manner that would flood, impair,
or harm any wetlands located upstream of the Federal
land, subject to the condition that deepening Crystal
Reservoir in a manner consistent with the water rights
of the City shall be allowed.
(2) Other terms and conditions.--The conveyance under
subsection (b) shall be subject to such other terms and
conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(3) Reversionary interest.--If the Federal land conveyed
under subsection (b) ceases to be used in accordance with the
terms and conditions under this subsection, the Federal land
shall revert to the United States, at the discretion of the
Secretary, if the Secretary determines that reversion is in the
best interest of the United States.
(f) Use of Red Mountain Ditch.--After the conveyance under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall allow the structure located near
the Federal land commonly known as ``Red Mountain Ditch'', located near
Red Mountain Pass, to continue to be used by the City for all decreed
purposes under Colorado water law, including the diversion and delivery
of water for storage in Crystal Reservoir.
(g) Water Rights.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the City may use
Crystal Reservoir for--
(A) storage of water and in-reservoir uses,
consistent with any water rights; or
(B) releases of water for augmentation and other
beneficial uses, consistent with any water rights.
(2) State water law.--The City shall manage all water
rights associated with the Federal land in accordance with
applicable water laws of the State of Colorado.
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section prohibits the
City from making any expenditure for repair of Full Moon Dam or any
other feature of the Federal land before the date of the conveyance
under subsection (b), subject to the approval of the Secretary.
(i) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the Map and
a legal description of the Federal land to be conveyed under
subsection (b).
(2) Corrections.--The Secretary and the City, by mutual
agreement, may correct any minor errors in the Map or legal
description under paragraph (1).
(3) Map on file.--The Map and legal description under
paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public
inspection in each appropriate office of the Forest Service.
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