Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specific federal land and the Crystal Reservoir to the City of Ouray, Colorado. The conveyance includes the lake, Full Moon Dam, Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10, and approximately 45 acres of underlying and surrounding land. The Secretary will also transfer associated water rights to the city. Except for land surveys, the conveyance will be completed at no cost to the city. The city must maintain the land as open space for public recreational access without charging fees. If the city fails to follow the terms and conditions, the land may revert back to the United States.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +3
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Directly benefits the residents of Ouray, CO through local control of water and land.
- Scored +3
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Devolves authority and property ownership from the federal government to a local municipality.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Guarantees free public access to recreation and fishing without fees.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Prohibits commercial operations and development on the conveyed land.
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
Decreases federal ownership and management of land in favor of local control.
How the text last changed
Engrossed in Senate (9/30/2026), compared with Reported to Senate. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill entirely removes provisions that would have directed the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specific Federal land and water rights in Ouray, Colorado, to the City of Ouray. It also removes all associated requirements regarding land surveys, costs, maintenance responsibilities, public access, and potential land reversion back to the United States. The only text that remains in the newer version is Section 1, which states the short title of the legislation as the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
According to Section 2(c)(3) and Section 2(d)(1), the conveyance of the federal land will be completed at no cost to the City of Ouray, and the Secretary will pay all costs associated with the conveyance except for surveys, which saves local taxpayers and the city government money.
-
Under Section 2(e)(1)(B), the city is required to maintain the federal land in perpetuity as open space for public recreational activities like fishing, without charging any fees for recreational access, which guarantees free public use and enjoyment of the area.
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As outlined in Section 2(f)(1), the Secretary must recognize a perpetual easement for the Red Mountain Ditch for use by the city to divert and deliver water and to access, operate, maintain, repair, replace, or improve the ditch, which helps secure the local water supply and infrastructure upkeep.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Under Section 2(d)(2), the City of Ouray is required to pay all costs associated with any surveys conducted for the purpose of accomplishing the conveyance, which places a financial burden on the local government.
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According to Section 2(e)(1)(A), the city must assume full responsibility for the costs of all repairs, operations, maintenance, replacement, rehabilitation, and regulatory compliance for dam safety relating to Full Moon Dam and related infrastructure, which could create significant ongoing financial obligations for the local community.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Directly benefits the residents of Ouray, CO through local control of water and land. Would farmers be better off under this? — Improves local water resource management and storage for beneficial uses. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Guarantees free public access to recreation and fishing without fees. Would children be better off under this? — Ensures free public access to outdoor recreational space for future generations. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Ensures free public access to outdoor recreational space for future generations. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Guarantees free public access to recreation and fishing without fees. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Ensures free public access to outdoor recreational space for future generations. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Ensures free public access to outdoor recreational space for future generations. Would business owners be better off under this? — Prohibits commercial operations and development on the conveyed land.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Requires the land to be maintained in perpetuity as open space and prohibits commercial development. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Transfers management of a specific reservoir to local control while ensuring public access. Does this invest in rural communities? — Secures water resources and infrastructure for the local municipality of Ouray.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Transfers maintenance costs from the federal government to the City of Ouray.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Devolves authority and property ownership from the federal government to a local municipality. Does this give the federal government more power? — Decreases federal ownership and management of land in favor of local control.
The version one chamber actually passed
What changed from Reported to Senate
The newer version of the bill entirely removes provisions that would have directed the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specific Federal land and water rights in Ouray, Colorado, to the City of Ouray. It also removes all associated requirements regarding land surveys, costs, maintenance responsibilities, public access, and potential land reversion back to the United States. The only text that remains in the newer version is Section 1, which states the short title of the legislation as the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act.
Each change
- Section 1 and all subsequent sections: Removed all provisions relating to the conveyance of Federal land and water rights to the City of Ouray, including related definitions, maps, Secretary of Agriculture duties, city agreements, costs, and land use conditions.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 10/5/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 9/30/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5201-5203; text: CR S5202-5203)
- 9/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 641.
- 7/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2/12/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
- 9/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado