Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HURD of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5911, the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act.

I will begin by thanking committee staff, whose hard work helped move this legislation across the finish line.

At its core, this bill reflects a simple principle: Where there is strong local support, a clear public purpose, and appropriate safeguards, decisions should be made by the people closest to the resource.

That principle is, in fact, at the heart of this legislation.

H.R. 5911 would convey the Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam and Ditch, and the surrounding land necessary for their operations to the city of Ouray, along with the associated water rights and infrastructure.

This request came from the city of Ouray itself. It is not a top-down proposal. It is a locally driven solution to a local problem.

For generations, Crystal Reservoir has served the community in multiple ways. It provides water for municipal use and agriculture. It supports recreation. It supports the city's hot springs, and it serves as an important resource for wildfire suppression in a region where that responsibility becomes more and more important each year.

In 2024, structural concerns at Full Moon Dam forced the United States Forest Service to drain the reservoir. Almost overnight, the community lost a resource it had relied upon for generations.

Today, the question before us is straightforward: Who is best positioned to restore, maintain, and manage this resource going forward?

The city of Ouray has answered that question. The city is prepared to assume full responsibility for repair, operation, maintenance, and liability.

The city is prepared to do the work. The city is prepared to bear the responsibility, and the city is prepared to make the long-term investments necessary to restore this important asset.

At the same time, this legislation protects the public interest. It preserves public access. It protects recreational opportunities. It prohibits commercial development. It includes a reversionary provision to ensure that the land continues to be used for its intended purpose, the land remains protected, and the public remains welcome.

The difference is that management moves closer to the people who depend on this resource every day.

This legislation is also good government. At a time when Federal land management agencies face substantial deferred maintenance backlogs, this bill relieves the Federal Government of future operational and maintenance obligations, while placing the resource in the hands of a willing and capable local partner.

In the West, we often say that water is life. This bill recognizes that reality. It respects local stewardship. It respects taxpayers, and it recognizes that communities willing to assume responsibility should be empowered to do so.

This is a story about local responsibility. The community is stepping forward to preserve an important resource, maintain public access, and ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from it.

Congress should support that effort. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5911.

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