Help Us Save Crystal Lake
Help us save Crystal Lake! Your support helps us demonstrate to Congress that the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act should be swiftly passed. After it is conveyed to the City, it can quickly be repaired and refilled, restoring essential water for municipal use, firefighting, wildlife, and recreation.
TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE CRYSTAL LAKE
1. SIGN THE PETITION
2. CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
2. CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Join us! View the growing list of local governments and stakeholders, along with their letters of strong support, here.
Because of your early support, the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act is now bipartisan bicameral legislation. We are grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Representative Hurd (R-CO3). We still need more
Join us! View the growing list of local governments and stakeholders, along with their letters of strong support, here.
Because of your early support, the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act is now bipartisan bicameral legislation. We are grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Representative Hurd (R-CO3). We still need more U.S. Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor. By signing the petition and adding your comments, you are helping us get committee hearings and floor votes.
Anyone can sign the petition - you don't need to be a local. Crystal Lake is beloved by visitors from across the U.S. and the world.
2. CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
2. CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
2. CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Urgent: PLEASE CALL Representative HURD and THANK him for his strong support and for introducing the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act in the U.S. House of Representatives (202-225-4676).
Please also THANK Senator Bennet (202-224-5852) and Senator Hickenlooper (202-224-5941) for supporting and co-sponsoring the Crystal Reservoir Conveya
Urgent: PLEASE CALL Representative HURD and THANK him for his strong support and for introducing the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act in the U.S. House of Representatives (202-225-4676).
Please also THANK Senator Bennet (202-224-5852) and Senator Hickenlooper (202-224-5941) for supporting and co-sponsoring the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act.
If you are not a resident of Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, please call your U.S. Representative and ask them to support the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act. If you are from another state, call your Senators and ask them to support it as well.
- Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act talking points are here.
(Use the button to find your legislators if you are from another area.)
- Tips for advocacy phone calls to your elected officials are here.
3. TELL US WHY YOU CARE
2. CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
3. TELL US WHY YOU CARE
Why is restoring Crystal Lake and permanently preserving free and full public access for recreation important to you? Tell us about your favorite visit to Crystal Lake. Send us your Crystal Lake photos.
Photographer Jacob Candelaria posted this dark sky photo of Crystal Lake on 1/19/24 on the American Southwest Facebook page: "... This wa
Why is restoring Crystal Lake and permanently preserving free and full public access for recreation important to you? Tell us about your favorite visit to Crystal Lake. Send us your Crystal Lake photos.
Photographer Jacob Candelaria posted this dark sky photo of Crystal Lake on 1/19/24 on the American Southwest Facebook page: "... This was a fun trip and I love any excuse to sneak away to the San Juan mountains...there were some other photographers getting some time-lapse and drone footage. I rarely cross paths with other photographers, so it was nice to have some people to share experiences with."
Ouray County Resident Devon Horntvedt commented on Facebook: "...the upside for Ouray is significant water storage rights potential for the Ouray Hot Springs and drinking water supplies, the restoration of the best easily accessible fishing location within many miles, and of course, one of the finest meditative reflection pools in the entire country."
THE ISSUE: The USFS suddenly drained Crystal Lake in early 2024 due to safety concerns regarding the Full Moon Dam. Images of Crystal Reservoir BEFORE
Facebook post by Elliot McGucken's 45Epic Fine Art Landscape Photography showing Crystal Lake on a fall day in 2022, before it was drained.
Facebook post by Andy Crawford Photography, showing Crystal Lake on an undated fall day, before it was drained.
The Mine Next Door is a 10-installment series of articles published in 2018, Celebrating 25 Years of Reclamation and Partnership at the Idarado Mine, written by Samantha Tisdel Wright. This photograph is Ironton Park by Brett Schreckgost for The Mine Next Door, Legacy of Land installment and looks north across the wetlands toward Crystal Lake.
Images of Crystal Reservoir AFTER being drained in early 2024-
Photograph by Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun, in May 2024. Looking north at the approximately 4-acre remnant of water left in the originally 40-acre reservoir.
Photograph by Mike Boruta - Ouraybyflight.com looking south at the approximately 4-acre remnant of water in Crystal Reservoir and Ironton Park. The photo most recently appeared in an OurayNews article on November 4, 2025.
OUR SOLUTION: PASS THE CRYSTAL RESERVOIR CONVEYANCE ACT NOW
What the Act Will Do:
THE CRYSTAL RESERVOIR CONVEYANCE ACT WILL:
- REPAIR AND REFILL CRYSTAL LAKE: Allow the City of Ouray, at its own cost, to repair Full Moon Dam and refill Crystal Reservoir within the original footprint of the lake. A Congressionally Directed Conveyance is the most efficient and effective path to swiftly restore the beauty and function of Crystal Lake. The City will work with the State's Dam Safety team.
- IMPROVE DROUGHT RESISTANCE AND WATER SECURITY: The Colorado Water Plan emphasizes multipurpose water storage, watershed health, and proactive local water management. Ownership of Crystal Reservoir will enable the City of Ouray to enhance water security for its residents, improve drought resilience, and implement conservation strategies consistent with the Plan's objectives.
- PRESERVE FREE AND FULL PUBLIC ACCESS FOREVER: The Conveyance Act (as drafted) guarantees permanent public access easements for all trails and routes and full public access for all recreational activities within or around the 45-acre conveyance parcel. It guarantees that the conveyed land can be used only as undeveloped public open space, free of charge for all recreational activities, in perpetuity.
- PROVIDE A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND WILDFIRE RESPONSE ASSET: With increasing threats of wildfire in the San Juan Mountains, the reservoir serves a critical role in regional wildfire mitigation. Local control will allow the City to integrate the reservoir into comprehensive wildfire response and forest health strategies, improving emergency preparedness and watershed resilience.
- PROTECT FRAGILE FEN AND WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS: Upstream wetlands will be protected from impairment or harm from the operation of the reservoir.
- SAFEGUARD ALL VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.
- BAN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
The Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act has broad support from local governments in Ouray and San Juan Counties and from key stakeholders who helped the USFS acquire Crystal Lake and Full Moon Dam in 2003. Please show your support by signing our petition.
Your support helps us get US S. 2754/H.B. 5911, the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act, passed in the Senate and House and to the President for signature. Once conveyed to the City of Ouray, Crystal can be quickly repaired and refilled, restoring essential water for municipal use, firefighting, wildlife, and recreation. The Conveyance guarantees that Crystal Lake will remain undeveloped with free and full public access to the lake and trails in perpetuity.
Get Involved with Save Crystal Lake
Join our community and get involved with our initiatives. Whether you want to volunteer at a clean-up event, attend an educational workshop, or simply stay informed about our work, there are many ways to get involved with Save Crystal Lake. Sign up today and make a difference!
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CRYSTAL LAKE CONVEYANCE ACT:
Colorado Senator Michael Bennet,
"The City's water supply and hot springs depend on Crystal Reservoir. This common-sense legislation will refill and reopen the Reservoir, protecting its recreational and environmental benefits for future generations."
Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper,
"A refilled Crystal Reservoir will boost outdoor recreation and provide much-needed water storage to fight extreme drought and better manage wildfires. Through this transfer, Ouray can unlock that potential to make repairs and maintain the reservoir."
Colorado Representative Jeff Hurd, R-CO-3,
“Crystal Reservoir has served Ouray for over 90 years, providing essential water storage, supporting wildfire response, and offering recreation opportunities families treasure. Ouray is ready to take on the responsibility of restoring it. This legislation allows local leaders to repair the dam and ensure this resource serves the community for generations to come.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis,
"Colorado water is one of our most precious resources and this new bill from Senator Bennet will restore local water, land access, and management to the community that knows the watershed best."
City of Ouray: Ethan Funk, Mayor
"For over 90 years, Crystal Reservoir has been a part of a colorful history, and a favorite recreation location in the San Juan mountains of Colorado...Crystal reservoir is deeply missed by all who knew her, and we want her back. The City, along with our many partners, seeks to repair and restore this beautiful body of water so she can continue on for many more generations. I fully support the conveyance...We will return the love..."
Colorado Department of Natural Resources: Dan Gibbs, Executive Director
"Longterm stewardship of natural resources, especially water supply, is critical for the local communities that are experiencing increasing drought conditions and reduced precipitation which are particularly profound in Southwestern Colorado. This...locally supported legislation is a good step...while also protecting public access, current recreational uses and wildlife habitats."