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Core Policy Mechanism Top 5
Conveyance of Crystal Reservoir to City of Ouray
- Population Scope Low The provision affects only the City of Ouray, Colorado, a single municipality, along with residents and visitors who use the reservoir for recreation. This is a geographically limited population.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low The conveyance is completed at no cost to the City except for surveys, with the Secretary paying all other costs. No specific dollar amounts are authorized or appropriated in the provision.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision permanently transfers title and all water rights from the United States to the City of Ouray through a quitclaim deed, creating a permanent change in property ownership and legal authority.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The Secretary 'shall convey' the land 'as soon as practicable,' providing minimal discretion. The terms and conditions are specifically enumerated with limited flexibility for the Secretary to add only such 'other terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.'
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low The provision includes a reversionary clause that creates enforcement obligations if the City fails to meet conditions, but no specific enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or compliance review procedures are established.
- Temporal Commitment High The conveyance creates perpetual obligations including maintaining the land as open space 'in perpetuity' and continuing public access without time limitation, establishing a permanent commitment binding future actors.
No signal yet
Regulatory or Legal Changes Top 5
Open space and public access requirements
- Population Scope Low The requirements affect the City of Ouray as the property owner and public users of the reservoir area for recreation, a localized population centered around a single municipal area.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No direct federal funding is involved. The City assumes operation and maintenance costs for the dam and infrastructure, but no specific appropriations or budget allocations are made.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision creates permanent obligations requiring the City to maintain the property 'in perpetuity' as open space with public access, establishing enduring legal constraints on property use.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The City 'shall agree' to specific conditions with precisely defined requirements: full public access for recreation including fishing, no fees, and prohibition on development except for reservoir operations. Limited discretion is provided.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Medium The provision creates ongoing compliance obligations that must be monitored, with the reversionary clause providing a mechanism for federal reacquisition if terms are violated. However, no specific monitoring procedures or penalties are detailed.
- Temporal Commitment High The open space and access requirements explicitly apply 'in perpetuity' with no sunset provision, creating permanent binding obligations on the City and all future property holders.
No signal yet
Core Policy Mechanism Top 5
Easement grants for existing trails and roads
- Population Scope Low The provision affects public users of trails and roads that originate at, terminate at, or traverse the federal land, a small population of recreational users in Ouray County.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No funding is authorized, appropriated, or allocated. The provision creates property rights (easements) but involves no direct budgetary effect.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision creates permanent easement rights that run with the land, establishing enduring legal access rights that cannot be extinguished without mutual agreement.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Medium The Secretary has discretion to determine which trails and roads qualify as originating at, terminating at, or traversing the federal land. The City must grant easements for those the Secretary determines meet these criteria.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low The provision creates easement rights but establishes no specific monitoring, enforcement mechanisms, or penalties. Enforcement would follow standard property law regarding easements.
- Temporal Commitment High Easements are permanent property interests with no expiration date or sunset provision, creating enduring obligations that bind the City and future property holders indefinitely.
No signal yet
Core Policy Mechanism Top 5
Continued use of Red Mountain Ditch
- Population Scope Low The provision affects only the City of Ouray in its operation of water infrastructure for diversion and delivery to Crystal Reservoir, a single municipal entity.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No funds are authorized, appropriated, or allocated. The provision establishes usage rights for existing infrastructure but has no direct budgetary effect.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision permanently establishes the City's right to use Red Mountain Ditch for all decreed purposes under Colorado water law after conveyance, creating an enduring legal right.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The Secretary 'shall allow' continued use with no discretion to deny or modify. The scope is defined by existing Colorado water law decrees, providing minimal federal discretion.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low The provision creates a usage right but establishes no new enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or compliance requirements. Implementation follows existing water rights frameworks.
- Temporal Commitment High The provision establishes a permanent right to continue using the ditch structure with no expiration date or sunset provision, binding future Secretaries indefinitely.
No signal yet
Regulatory or Legal Changes Top 5
Water rights management under Colorado law
- Population Scope Low The provision affects the City of Ouray in managing water rights for Crystal Reservoir and potentially other water users in the Colorado water rights system who may be affected by priority and allocation.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No federal funds are involved. The provision governs how water rights are managed but creates no appropriations, authorizations, or budget allocations.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision permanently subjects water rights management to Colorado state law rather than federal law, creating an enduring framework for water rights administration that changes the legal landscape.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The City 'shall manage' water rights in accordance with Colorado law, providing no discretion to deviate. Federal authority is explicitly deferred to state water law.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low Enforcement is delegated entirely to Colorado state water law authorities. No federal enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or compliance requirements are established.
- Temporal Commitment High The requirement to manage water rights under Colorado law is permanent with no sunset provision or time limitation, binding the City indefinitely.
No signal yet
Regulatory or Legal Changes
Prohibition on reservoir expansion affecting wetlands
- Population Scope Low The provision affects the City of Ouray in its reservoir operations and protects wetlands located upstream of Crystal Reservoir, affecting a limited geographic area.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No funding is authorized or appropriated. The provision constrains future infrastructure expansion but involves no direct budgetary effect.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision creates a permanent prohibition on expanding the historical footprint in a manner that would harm upstream wetlands, establishing an enduring environmental protection constraint.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The City is prohibited from expanding the reservoir footprint if it would flood, impair, or harm wetlands. Deepening consistent with water rights is explicitly allowed, providing minimal discretion within defined parameters.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Medium The provision creates compliance obligations regarding wetlands protection with reversionary consequences for violations, requiring ongoing monitoring to ensure the historical footprint is not expanded in prohibited ways.
- Temporal Commitment High The prohibition is permanent with no sunset provision or time limitation, binding the City and future property holders indefinitely in protecting upstream wetlands.
No signal yet
No possible riders have been surfaced for this bill.
Summary
The Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey federal land in Ouray County, Colorado, to the City of Ouray. The transferred property includes Crystal Reservoir, the associated lake, Full Moon Dam and related facilities, infrastructure, and approximately 45 acres of surrounding land managed by the Forest Service. The conveyance also includes all water rights associated with the federal land, including those decreed in 1942. The transfer is made at no cost to the City, except for survey expenses, and is subject to several conditions. The City must grant easements for existing trails and roads, maintain the land as perpetual open space for public recreation without charging access fees, and assume all costs for repairs, operations, and maintenance of the dam and infrastructure. The City is prohibited from commercial development on the land except as needed for reservoir operations and maintenance. A reversionary clause allows the federal government to reclaim the land if the City fails to comply with these conditions. After the conveyance, the Secretary must allow the City to continue using Red Mountain Ditch for water diversion and delivery to Crystal Reservoir. All water rights must be managed according to Colorado state water law. The bill includes provisions for finalizing maps and legal descriptions of the property, with corrections subject to mutual agreement between the Secretary and the City.
AI-generated summary, pending human review.
| Version | Event | Date | User support | Your vote | Roll calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original |
Initial publication
Nov 4, 2025
|
Nov 4, 2025 | No votes yet | — | — |
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Core Policy Mechanism Top 5
Conveyance of Crystal Reservoir to City of Ouray
- Population Scope Low The provision affects only the City of Ouray, Colorado, a single municipality, along with residents and visitors who use the reservoir for recreation. This is a geographically limited population.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low The conveyance is completed at no cost to the City except for surveys, with the Secretary paying all other costs. No specific dollar amounts are authorized or appropriated in the provision.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision permanently transfers title and all water rights from the United States to the City of Ouray through a quitclaim deed, creating a permanent change in property ownership and legal authority.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The Secretary 'shall convey' the land 'as soon as practicable,' providing minimal discretion. The terms and conditions are specifically enumerated with limited flexibility for the Secretary to add only such 'other terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.'
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low The provision includes a reversionary clause that creates enforcement obligations if the City fails to meet conditions, but no specific enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or compliance review procedures are established.
- Temporal Commitment High The conveyance creates perpetual obligations including maintaining the land as open space 'in perpetuity' and continuing public access without time limitation, establishing a permanent commitment binding future actors.
No signal yet
Core Policy Mechanism
Conveyance of Crystal Reservoir to City of Ouray
Regulatory or Legal Changes Top 5
Open space and public access requirements
- Population Scope Low The requirements affect the City of Ouray as the property owner and public users of the reservoir area for recreation, a localized population centered around a single municipal area.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No direct federal funding is involved. The City assumes operation and maintenance costs for the dam and infrastructure, but no specific appropriations or budget allocations are made.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision creates permanent obligations requiring the City to maintain the property 'in perpetuity' as open space with public access, establishing enduring legal constraints on property use.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The City 'shall agree' to specific conditions with precisely defined requirements: full public access for recreation including fishing, no fees, and prohibition on development except for reservoir operations. Limited discretion is provided.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Medium The provision creates ongoing compliance obligations that must be monitored, with the reversionary clause providing a mechanism for federal reacquisition if terms are violated. However, no specific monitoring procedures or penalties are detailed.
- Temporal Commitment High The open space and access requirements explicitly apply 'in perpetuity' with no sunset provision, creating permanent binding obligations on the City and all future property holders.
No signal yet
Regulatory or Legal Changes
Open space and public access requirements
Core Policy Mechanism Top 5
Easement grants for existing trails and roads
- Population Scope Low The provision affects public users of trails and roads that originate at, terminate at, or traverse the federal land, a small population of recreational users in Ouray County.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No funding is authorized, appropriated, or allocated. The provision creates property rights (easements) but involves no direct budgetary effect.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision creates permanent easement rights that run with the land, establishing enduring legal access rights that cannot be extinguished without mutual agreement.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Medium The Secretary has discretion to determine which trails and roads qualify as originating at, terminating at, or traversing the federal land. The City must grant easements for those the Secretary determines meet these criteria.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low The provision creates easement rights but establishes no specific monitoring, enforcement mechanisms, or penalties. Enforcement would follow standard property law regarding easements.
- Temporal Commitment High Easements are permanent property interests with no expiration date or sunset provision, creating enduring obligations that bind the City and future property holders indefinitely.
No signal yet
Core Policy Mechanism
Easement grants for existing trails and roads
Core Policy Mechanism Top 5
Continued use of Red Mountain Ditch
- Population Scope Low The provision affects only the City of Ouray in its operation of water infrastructure for diversion and delivery to Crystal Reservoir, a single municipal entity.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No funds are authorized, appropriated, or allocated. The provision establishes usage rights for existing infrastructure but has no direct budgetary effect.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision permanently establishes the City's right to use Red Mountain Ditch for all decreed purposes under Colorado water law after conveyance, creating an enduring legal right.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The Secretary 'shall allow' continued use with no discretion to deny or modify. The scope is defined by existing Colorado water law decrees, providing minimal federal discretion.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low The provision creates a usage right but establishes no new enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or compliance requirements. Implementation follows existing water rights frameworks.
- Temporal Commitment High The provision establishes a permanent right to continue using the ditch structure with no expiration date or sunset provision, binding future Secretaries indefinitely.
No signal yet
Core Policy Mechanism
Continued use of Red Mountain Ditch
Regulatory or Legal Changes Top 5
Water rights management under Colorado law
- Population Scope Low The provision affects the City of Ouray in managing water rights for Crystal Reservoir and potentially other water users in the Colorado water rights system who may be affected by priority and allocation.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No federal funds are involved. The provision governs how water rights are managed but creates no appropriations, authorizations, or budget allocations.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision permanently subjects water rights management to Colorado state law rather than federal law, creating an enduring framework for water rights administration that changes the legal landscape.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The City 'shall manage' water rights in accordance with Colorado law, providing no discretion to deviate. Federal authority is explicitly deferred to state water law.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Low Enforcement is delegated entirely to Colorado state water law authorities. No federal enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or compliance requirements are established.
- Temporal Commitment High The requirement to manage water rights under Colorado law is permanent with no sunset provision or time limitation, binding the City indefinitely.
No signal yet
Regulatory or Legal Changes
Water rights management under Colorado law
Regulatory or Legal Changes
Prohibition on reservoir expansion affecting wetlands
- Population Scope Low The provision affects the City of Ouray in its reservoir operations and protects wetlands located upstream of Crystal Reservoir, affecting a limited geographic area.
- Budgetary Magnitude Low No funding is authorized or appropriated. The provision constrains future infrastructure expansion but involves no direct budgetary effect.
- Legal / Regulatory Depth High The provision creates a permanent prohibition on expanding the historical footprint in a manner that would harm upstream wetlands, establishing an enduring environmental protection constraint.
- Degree of Discretion Granted Low The City is prohibited from expanding the reservoir footprint if it would flood, impair, or harm wetlands. Deepening consistent with water rights is explicitly allowed, providing minimal discretion within defined parameters.
- Implementation & Enforcement Burden Medium The provision creates compliance obligations regarding wetlands protection with reversionary consequences for violations, requiring ongoing monitoring to ensure the historical footprint is not expanded in prohibited ways.
- Temporal Commitment High The prohibition is permanent with no sunset provision or time limitation, binding the City and future property holders indefinitely in protecting upstream wetlands.
No signal yet
Regulatory or Legal Changes (optional)
Prohibition on reservoir expansion affecting wetlands
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