In 2003, Crystal Reservoir was part of a larger parcel of land in Ironton Park purchased by the Red Mountain Project from a private landowner and transferred to the USFS. The Conveyance Act would transfer 45 acres containing Crystal Reservoir and Full Moon Dam to the City of Ouray so it can be retained as PUBLIC LAND with free and full public access in perpetuity and also enabling the City of Ouray to repair and refill Crystal Reservoir for important storage, public safety, and fishing uses.
Effort afoot to revive scenic lake in southwest Colorado.
At the urging of the two longtime locals along with several other regional governments, first responders and environmental and tourism groups, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper recently announced proposed legislation that would transfer the lake from the owning U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray. The city has pledged to refill the lake...[more]
The Forest Service drained the lake in 2024 after finding cracks and seepage at its dam. Locals want it back...[more]
A bill to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, giving hope to supporters of re-filling the reservoir that has remained stagnant since it was drained. The effort...comes almost 1 1/2 years after the Forest Service decided to empty it, leaving the reservoir unusable...[more]
Bill drafted to cede reservoir.
Federal legislation to transfer Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray...Forest Service would transfer ownership of the reservoir, its dam, ditch and all infrastructure and associated water rights. In exchange, the city would take on responsibility for the operation, maintenance and repairs of the dam and infrastructure. It would also agree to keep the area free and publicly accessible and not any commercial operations at the reservoir...[more]
The USFS announces that it is draining Crystal Reservoir.
The future of Crystal Reservoir, the shallow body of water atop Red Mountain Pass prized for its scenic values and water rights, is very much up in the air heading into the new yearThe U.S. Forest Service’s decision to draw down the reservoir last spring and potentially return it to wetlands triggered objections from local governments, revealed years of disagreements...[more]
City enlists senator’s help to try to acquire Crystal Reservoir.
The fight over a beloved, partially drained reservoir may be resolved in Congress, as the city of Ouray has requested help from U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet to try to acquire Crystal Reservoir, the Full Moon Dam and associated water rights from the U.S. Forest Service...[more]
Senator meets with stakeholders to discuss history, future of Crystal. Bennet vows to help transfer reservoir ownership.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said Wednesday he will draft a bill to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray, a move that could help secure the long-term future of the reservoir, which was drawn down earlier this year...[more]
A picturesque lake in southwestern Colorado disappeared. Locals want it back as fast as possible.
The U.S. Forest Service drained Crystal Lake in April, citing dam issues and concern for public safety. The move left locals flummoxed...[more]
Ouray County leaders voted on Tuesday to hire a consultant to study issues with Crystal Reservoir...[more]
City, feds spar over reservoir.
The city of Ouray and the U.S. Forest Service are locked in a disagreement over the federal agency’s drawdown of Crystal Reservoir and whether the city has a legal right to some of the water...[more]
Fate of reservoir still undetermined.
Crystal Reservoir releases begin, access closed due to dam safety concerns.
The U.S. Forest Service will start releasing water from Crystal Reservoir to lessen pressure on the structurally compromised Full Moon Dam, beginning this week. According to the agency, it will close off public access to the reservoir, and the route across the dam at the north end of the reservoir, as well as a segment of the Hayden Trail...[more]
Let’s hope for a preserved Crystal Reservoir.
Dear Editor: On Dec. 18, 2003, the Ouray Ranger District published a press release announcing the purchase of an 806-acre parcel of mining claim in the Ironton valley. The second paragraph read: “This land is one of the crown jewels in the Red Mountain area,” said Forest Service District Ranger Jim Free. “It has world class mountain views, outstanding ecological, recreational and historical values...[more]
A cloudy future for Crystal Reservoir.
The U.S. Forest Service is considering draining the body of water atop Red Mountain Pass.
Local leaders worry that could harm tourism and recreation...The city of Ouray has water storage rights in the reservoir, and an operations and maintenance agreement with the Forest Service to store the city’s water...[more]
Crystal Reservoir was a pristine natural lake. Ouray County Historical Society shared a photograph by William Henry Jackson of the small lake taken in 1901 in their Conveyance support letter. In 1930, the Full Moon Dam, an earth dam less than fifteen feet high to enlarge the size of the water body. It was about 40 acres when the Red Mountain Project acquired it in 2003 from a willing private landowner and helped transfer it to the USFS to keep it as pristine public open space and water storage.
In this file photo from 2019, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Senior Aquatic Biologist Eric Gardunio stands in Crystal Reservoir after releasing a cutthroat trout he caught as part of an experiment to see if flashing lights could encourage fish to stay in the reservoir...[more]
Initially, the group hoped to acquire 10,500 acres. Now, the remaining 1,500 acres, still in private hands, are even more valuable than before because they are on the edge of or surrounded by public land. But that didn’t dampen the ebullient mood at the Aug. 18 gathering, held next to the newly public Crystal Lake, where the glassy water held reflections of deep orange mountainsides...[more]
Task force members first asked the Trust for Public Land to help the Forest Service secure a deal with the largest land owner in the area, Idarado Mining Co. a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corp. This turned out to be easy: Richard River, vice president of Idarado, said mining on Red Mountain is no longer economically viable due to environmental constraints... agreed...[more]
Add a footnote if this applies to your business
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.