February 8, 2026 - Exciting Update!
Your strong support, as evidenced by your signatures and letters of support (https://savecrystallake.org/#55fdbea4-1716-4944-a8...), mobilized our legislators to introduce the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act in Congress in 2025! THANK YOU, Senators BENNET & HICKENLOOPER (S. 2754, 9/10/2025) and Rep. HURD (H.R. 5911, 11/4/2025) for your leadership and for co-sponsoring!
H.R. 5911 is getting a hearing! The Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act at 2 pm Eastern time on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Watch City Manager, Michelle Metteer, provide witness testimony to the Subcommittee here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=418587
PLEASE, KEEP SPREADING THE NEWS ABOUT CRYSTAL RESERVOIR AND HELP US GET MORE SIGNATURES.
Crystal Lake, located in Ironton Park, is technically a reservoir and has been quietly reflecting the red mountains and slopes surrounding Ironton Park for more than 90 years.
In 2024, the USFS suddenly drained Crystal Reservoir. Prior to 2024, the USFS indicated that its preferred outcome was to permanently breach the 14-foot-high earth dam.
We all love Crystal Lake for its photogenic beauty, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. However, it is essential to ensure water security and public safety for the City of Ouray and Ouray County. Crystal Lake stores water needed for the City of Ouray's augmentation plan and is available for emergency firefighting when a fire starts in this remote area.
By signing this petition in support of the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act of 2025, you are indicating you want to preserve Crystal Lake and free public access for future generations.
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 way to swiftly restore Crystal Lake's beauty and function. 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 join us by signing our petition to show your support.
After it is conveyed to the City, it can quickly be 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.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 12, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
September 9, 2025
135 Comments
This resource is essential to Ouray's future, to augment our water supply, and to provide a water source for firefighting. Plus, tourists put visiting this lake at the top of their must-see, must-photograph list. Many are dismayed that the lake is no longer there.
Please preserve the existence of this lake. Its importance to Ouray and the county cannot be emphasized enough. It would be a real shame if the dam was not allowed to be repaired. It is more efficient to store water in these higher elevations where there are more clouds and cooler temperatures.
This is such a beautiful piece of Colorado that is very famous that everybody knows about. I actually had the privilege of photographing a wedding there and it was absolutely beautiful with the mountains in the background and the lake and all of that so please save this reservoir.
The USFS created a totally inaccurate report about this lake, to make their decision. Application of Bentonite clay on the inner dam wall would solve the "leak". Let's save it!
As president of the Ouray County Historical Society, I fully support the conveyance and subsequent re-filling of the Crystal Resevoir to the City of Ouray
Save the lake
Love Crystal Lake!!
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
February 8, 2026 - Exciting Update!
Your strong support, as evidenced by your signatures and letters of support (https://savecrystallake.org/#55fdbea4-1716-4944-a8...), mobilized our legislators to introduce the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act in Congress in 2025! THANK YOU, Senators BENNET & HICKENLOOPER (S. 2754, 9/10/2025) and Rep. HURD (H.R. 5911, 11/4/2025) for your leadership and for co-sponsoring!
H.R. 5911 is getting a hearing! The Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act at 2 pm Eastern time on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Watch City Manager, Michelle Metteer, provide witness testimony to the Subcommittee here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=418587
PLEASE, KEEP SPREADING THE NEWS ABOUT CRYSTAL RESERVOIR AND HELP US GET MORE SIGNATURES.
Crystal Lake, located in Ironton Park, is technically a reservoir and has been quietly reflecting the red mountains and slopes surrounding Ironton Park for more than 90 years.
In 2024, the USFS suddenly drained Crystal Reservoir. Prior to 2024, the USFS indicated that its preferred outcome was to permanently breach the 14-foot-high earth dam.
We all love Crystal Lake for its photogenic beauty, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. However, it is essential to ensure water security and public safety for the City of Ouray and Ouray County. Crystal Lake stores water needed for the City of Ouray's augmentation plan and is available for emergency firefighting when a fire starts in this remote area.
By signing this petition in support of the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act of 2025, you are indicating you want to preserve Crystal Lake and free public access for future generations.
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 way to swiftly restore Crystal Lake's beauty and function. 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 join us by signing our petition to show your support.
After it is conveyed to the City, it can quickly be 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.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 12, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
September 9, 2025
135 Comments
There are only two places in Ouray County where anyone with mobility issues can fish. Ridgway State Park and Crystal Reservoir. Having this managed by Ouray County will offer more to more people in our community and those that visit the area.
This resource is essential to Ouray's future, to augment our water supply, and to provide a water source for firefighting. Plus, tourists put visiting this lake at the top of their must-see, must-photograph list. Many are dismayed that the lake is no longer there.
Please preserve the existence of this lake. Its importance to Ouray and the county cannot be emphasized enough. It would be a real shame if the dam was not allowed to be repaired. It is more efficient to store water in these higher elevations where there are more clouds and cooler temperatures.
This is such a beautiful piece of Colorado that is very famous that everybody knows about. I actually had the privilege of photographing a wedding there and it was absolutely beautiful with the mountains in the background and the lake and all of that so please save this reservoir.
The USFS created a totally inaccurate report about this lake, to make their decision. Application of Bentonite clay on the inner dam wall would solve the "leak". Let's save it!
As president of the Ouray County Historical Society, I fully support the conveyance and subsequent re-filling of the Crystal Resevoir to the City of Ouray
Save the lake
Love Crystal Lake!!
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
There are only two places in Ouray County where anyone with mobility issues can fish. Ridgway State Park and Crystal Reservoir. Having this managed by Ouray County will offer more to more people in our community and those that visit the area.