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Commissioners urge federal conveyance to City of Ouray after Crystal Reservoir drain
Summary
Ouray County commissioner updated the group on Crystal Reservoir history, said the Forest Service drained the lake citing safety without prior notice, and urged support for federal conveyance legislation that would transfer the reservoir to the City of Ouray for repair and public use.
Commissioner Lynn Padgett briefed attendees on Crystal Reservoir, a 40‑acre reservoir acquired through the Red Mountain Project and placed in Forest Service stewardship. Padgett said the Forest Service recently drained the reservoir citing public‑safety concerns but did not previously raise those issues with local stakeholders.
Padgett asked the tri‑county group to support pending federal conveyance legislation introduced by Colorado's congressional delegation that would transfer Crystal Reservoir to the City of Ouray with a reversion clause to federal ownership if the public‑use conditions are not met. He said the bill mirrors a prior conveyance (Molas Lake) and argued local stewardship is the best path to repair and refill the reservoir for year‑round public recreation.
"They claim it was a public safety issue but they never once brought up the public safety issue for the years in advance," Padgett said, describing a lack of prior inspection reporting to local governments. Padgett asked commissioners to remain engaged and to support the conveyance effort in federal channels.
Commissioners expressed general support for preserving the reservoir as public land and pledged to follow the bill’s progress in Congress.
