Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act | ChamberLight

REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 2754Dams and canalsWater storage

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

INTRO SEP 10· LAST ACTION SEP 17

READING

12MIN

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Introduced only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because it shifts control and responsibility for a vital local water resource and recreational area from the federal government to the local community in Ouray, Colorado. If this bill becomes law, the City of Ouray would have direct say over the management and upkeep of Crystal Reservoir, potentially allowing for more responsive local decision-making regarding its water supply and public access.

However, it also means the City takes on the financial and logistical burden of maintaining the dam and infrastructure, which can be significant. If the bill doesn't pass, the Forest Service would continue to manage the reservoir, and the City would not gain direct ownership or the associated water rights, nor would it bear the direct maintenance costs and responsibilities specified in the bill.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

The Secretary of Agriculture must transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir, including Full Moon Dam and associated infrastructure, and approximately 45 acres of surrounding land, along with all associated water rights, to the City of Ouray, Colorado.

This provision shifts the full legal ownership and control of a critical local water source and recreational area from the federal government to the local municipality.

PROVISION 02

The City of Ouray must agree to maintain the conveyed land in perpetuity as open space, allowing full public access for recreational activities like fishing, without charging any fees.

This ensures that despite the transfer of ownership, the public will retain free access to the area for outdoor activities.

PROVISION 03

The City of Ouray is prohibited from conducting any commercial operations or new construction on the land, except for what is needed for the operation and maintenance of the dam and reservoir.

This restriction preserves the natural and recreational character of the land by preventing commercial development.

PROVISION 04

The City of Ouray will assume responsibility for all costs related to the repair, operation, and maintenance of Full Moon Dam and its related infrastructure, including Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10.

This transfers the financial burden and operational responsibility for crucial water infrastructure from the federal government to the local government.

PROVISION 05

If the City of Ouray fails to use the land in accordance with the established terms and conditions, the land may revert back to the United States at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.

This provides a mechanism for the federal government to reclaim the land if the City does not uphold its commitments regarding public access and land use.

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ACTION TIMELINE

12 EVENTS

SEP 17

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

COMMITTEE

SEP 17

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 641.

CALENDARS

JUL 16

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

JUL 16

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 2754

Congress119th

StatusReported

IntroducedSep 10, 2025

Last actionSep 17, 2026

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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED SEP 10, 2025

Senate BillS 2754Dams and canalsWater storage

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

INTRODUCED SEP 10, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 17, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

12 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

This provision shifts the full legal ownership and control of a critical local water source and recreational area from the federal government to the local municipality.

high

The City of Ouray must agree to maintain the conveyed land in perpetuity as open space, allowing full public access for recreational activities like fishing, without charging any fees.

This ensures that despite the transfer of ownership, the public will retain free access to the area for outdoor activities.

med

The City of Ouray is prohibited from conducting any commercial operations or new construction on the land, except for what is needed for the operation and maintenance of the dam and reservoir.

This restriction preserves the natural and recreational character of the land by preventing commercial development.

high

This transfers the financial burden and operational responsibility for crucial water infrastructure from the federal government to the local government.

med

If the City of Ouray fails to use the land in accordance with the established terms and conditions, the land may revert back to the United States at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture.

This provides a mechanism for the federal government to reclaim the land if the City does not uphold its commitments regarding public access and land use.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act

Secretary of Agriculture to convey the federal land and water rights to the City of Ouray.

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act

Secretary of Agriculture to finalize the Map and a legal description of the Federal land.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Conveyance: The act of legally transferring ownership of property from one party to another.
Federal land: Land owned and managed by the United States government.
Water rights: Legal rights to use water from a river, lake, or other source, often established under state law.
Quitclaim deed: A legal document used to transfer ownership of a property without any guarantee or warranty regarding the title's validity.
Reversionary interest: A right for property to return to a previous owner if certain conditions specified in the transfer document are not met.
Easement: A legal right allowing one party to use another party's land for a specific purpose, such as access for a road or trail.
Infrastructure: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies, dams) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

ACTION TIMELINE

12 EVENTS

SEP 17

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

COMMITTEE

SEP 17

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 641.

CALENDARS

JUL 16

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

JUL 16

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

COMMITTEE

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Committee Referrals

Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeReferred

Sep 17, 2026

senate

Related Hearings

Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for additional entities to be eligible to complete the maintenance work on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado, S.764, to provide for the designation of certain wilderness areas, recreation management areas, and conservation areas in the State of Colorado, S.791, to establish the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site in the State of Maryland as an affiliated area of the National Park System, S.888, to designate certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in the State of Oregon as wilderness and national recreation areas, to withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, S.945, to amend the Smith River National Recreation Area Act to include certain additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain wild rivers in the State of Oregon, S.1088, to provide that the memorial to commemorate the sacrifice and service of the women who worked on the home front to support the efforts of the United States military during World War II may be located on the National Mall, S.1175, to amend section 6903 of title 31, United States Code, to provide for additional population tiers, S.1341, to amend the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to add certain land to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness, S.1349, to withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing laws, S.1413, to authorize additional funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, S.1476, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of the Gila River system in the State of New Mexico as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of New Mexico, S.1737, to designate and expand wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest in the State of Washington, and to designate certain rivers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park as wild and scenic rivers, S.1870, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor, S.2554, to provide for the recognition of certain Alaska Native communities and the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, S.2754 and H.R.5911, 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, S.3526, to provide for the protection of and investment in certain Federal land in the State of California, S.3725, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to expand the capacity and reach of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as "Lewis &amp; Clark Regional Water System"), in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, S.3732, to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to authorize assistance under the storage program, H.R.249, to redesignate certain facilities at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr, and the nominations of William Hague, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary, Kevin Lilly, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, both of the Department of the Interior, and Kaveh Farzad, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (International Affairs).

Energy and Natural Resources Committee (senate)Jul 16, 2026

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Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

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