H.R. 5911

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5911 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5911

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 3, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act''.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND TO OURAY, COLORADO.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) City.--The term ``City'' means the City of Ouray, 
Colorado.
(2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
(A) the site known as ``Crystal Reservoir'' in 
Ouray County, Colorado, including--
(i) the lake associated with that 
reservoir;
(ii) Full Moon Dam and associated 
facilities, including the spillway and outlet;
(iii) Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 
10; and
(iv) all infrastructure associated with the 
reservoir; and
(B) the parcel comprising approximately 45 acres of 
land underlying and surrounding Crystal Reservoir, as 
depicted on the Map, managed by the Forest Service as 
necessary for access for repair, operation, and 
maintenance of Crystal Reservoir and the features 
described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph 
(A).
(3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map prepared by the 
Forest Service entitled ``Crystal Reservoir Conveyance'' and 
dated June 23, 2025.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the City--
(1) except as otherwise provided in this Act, all right, 
title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal 
land; and
(2) all right, title and interest of the United States in 
and to any water rights held for use on, appurtenant to, or 
otherwise associated with the Federal land, including the Full 
Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10 water rights described in 
the decree of the State of Colorado in Civil Action No. 1959, 
dated May 11, 1942.
(c) Requirements.--The conveyance under subsection (b) shall--
(1) convey fee simple title to the Federal land;
(2) be subject to--
(A) valid existing rights;
(B) the reservation to the United States, in the 
deed conveying the Federal land, of easements for each 
road, trail, and trailhead in existence on the date of 
the conveyance, together with such additional rights as 
are reasonably necessary for access, administration, 
operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of 
those improvements; and
(C) the reversionary interest described in 
subsection (e)(3); and
(3) except as provided in subsection (d)(2), be completed 
at no cost to the City.
(d) Costs.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
Secretary shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance 
under subsection (b).
(2) Survey.--The City shall pay all costs associated with 
any surveys conducted for the purpose of accomplishing the 
conveyance under subsection (b).
(e) Terms and Conditions.--
(1) In general.--As a condition of the conveyance of the 
Federal land under subsection (b), the City shall agree--
(A) effective beginning on the date of the 
conveyance, to assume responsibility for the costs of 
all repairs, operations, maintenance, replacement, 
rehabilitation, and regulatory compliance relating to 
Full Moon Dam and related infrastructure, including 
Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10;
(B) to maintain the Federal land in perpetuity as 
open space, to be held open--
(i) for public access for recreational 
activities, including fishing, except as 
reasonably necessary for public safety, 
resource protection, emergency response, or the 
operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, or 
rehabilitation of Full Moon Dam, Crystal 
Reservoir, or related infrastructure; and
(ii) not subject to any fee for 
recreational access;
(C) not to conduct on the Federal land any 
development, commercial operations, or construction, 
other than as needed for the operation, maintenance, 
repair, replacement, rehabilitation, public safety, and 
regulatory compliance for dam safety of Full Moon Dam, 
Crystal Reservoir, and related infrastructure, 
including Full Moon Ditch and Reservoir Number 10; and
(D) not to expand the surface footprint of Crystal 
Reservoir at normal operating levels (as depicted on 
the Map) in a manner that would flood, impair, or harm 
any wetlands located upstream of the Federal land, 
subject to the condition that deepening Crystal 
Reservoir in a manner consistent with the water rights 
of the City shall otherwise be allowed.
(2) Necessary action agreement.--The conveyance under 
subsection (b) shall be made subject to terms agreed to by the 
Secretary and the City that authorize the City to take such 
action on the easements described in subsection (c)(2)(B) as 
the City determines is reasonable and necessary for--
(A) public safety;
(B) emergency response; or
(C) the operation, maintenance, repair, 
replacement, or rehabilitation by the City of Full Moon 
Dam, Crystal Reservoir, or related infrastructure.
(3) Other terms and conditions.--The conveyance under 
subsection (b) shall be subject to such other terms and 
conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(4) Reversionary interest.--
(A) Written notice.--If the Federal land conveyed 
under subsection (b) ceases to be used in accordance 
with the terms and conditions under this subsection the 
Secretary shall submit to the City written notice with 
respect to such use.
(B) Reversion.--After the 90-day period beginning 
on the date written notice is submitted to the City 
under subparagraph (A), if the Federal land conveyed 
under subsection (b) continues to be used in a manner 
not in accordance with the terms and conditions under 
this subsection during such period, the Federal land 
shall revert to the United States, at the discretion of 
the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that 
reversion is in the best interest of the United States.
(f) Easement.--
(1) In general.--After the conveyance under subsection (b), 
the Secretary--
(A) shall recognize a perpetual easement for the 
Red Mountain Ditch for use by the City--
(i) for the purposes relating to the Ditch 
specified in the decrees entitled ``Case No. 
1751-B'' and ``Case No. 2013CW3040'' for the 
State of Colorado, including the diversion and 
delivery of water (not to exceed 6 cubic feet 
per second) for storage in Crystal Reservoir 
and subsequent beneficial use; and
(ii) to access, operate, maintain, repair, 
replace, or improve the Ditch and its 
appurtenances for such purposes; and
(B) may require special use authorizations for non-
routine maintenance and repairs of Red Mountain Ditch 
or for the replacement or improvement of the Ditch.
(2) Red mountain ditch defined.--In this subsection, the 
term ``Red Mountain Ditch'' means the Ditch known as Red 
Mountain Ditch constructed in or about 1945 located, as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act, on lands administered by the 
San Juan National Forest and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and 
Gunnison National Forest, in Section 14, Township 42 North, 
Range 8 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian.
(g) Water Rights.--After the conveyance under subsection (b), the 
City may use water in Crystal Reservoir for any beneficial use, subject 
to applicable water laws of the State of Colorado.
(h) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the Map and 
a legal description of the Federal land to be conveyed under 
subsection (b).
(2) Corrections.--The Secretary and the City, by mutual 
agreement, may correct any clerical or typographical errors in 
the Map or legal description under paragraph (1).
(3) Map on file.--The Map and legal description under 
paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public 
inspection in each appropriate office of the Forest Service.

Passed the House of Representatives June 2, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.