Ouray official urges swift passage of Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act to repair dam, restore water and public access

Michelle Matier, the city administrator for Ouray, Colorado, told the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands that H.R.5911, the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act, would allow the city to “repair the Full Moon Dam and refill the reservoir” by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to convey approximately 45 acres of land underlying and surrounding Crystal Reservoir to the city. She said the city is prepared to assume all future costs and liability in exchange for the conveyance and to manage the site for public access and conservation.

Matier described the reservoir as a local water-storage asset used for municipal augmentation and wildfire response and said it was drained while the U.S. Forest Service reviewed repair options. “We recognize the need for improvements and repairs to the Full Moon Dam in order to refill the reservoir,” Matier said, adding the transfer would relieve the Forest Service of operational and liability burdens while restoring water security for Ouray residents.

Forest Service witnesses told the committee they generally support the bill’s goals but identified technical issues to resolve. A Forest Service official noted several technical questions about water rates and a drainage conveyance ditch (the Red Mountain Ditch) that the agency would like clarified before final implementation, and said transferring ownership to a capable local government can reduce federal liability for aging infrastructure. The official also said agency staff view the measure as an example of a potential public‑private partnership to address deferred maintenance.

Matier said the city has analyzed its finances and believes the necessary repairs are manageable using a combination of its general fund reserves and municipal resources; she said the city has been consulting geotechnical and civil engineers to scope repairs but is reluctant to proceed deeply until a conveyance is completed. She told the committee the city has decreed water rights tied to the Red Mountain Ditch and that restoring the reservoir would improve drought resilience and support firefighting operations.

Local support, Matier said, has been broad: backing from the Ouray County Board of Commissioners, the county sheriff’s office, the Colorado River District, neighboring municipalities and watershed and historical organizations were cited during testimony. “This concludes my testimony, and I’m happy to answer questions,” Matier said.

What happens next: Committee members pressed witnesses for further technical details and asked for follow-up answers in writing. The committee held the hearing record open and invited submitted questions under committee rules; the clerk set a written question deadline during the hearing. The hearing closed with the subcommittee adjourned and the record left open for further follow-up.