Bill to Resolve Crystal Lakes Land Survey Receives Hearing in Udall's Subcommittee

Press Release

Today, a bill to correct a faulty land survey and return seven acres of land to property owners in the Crystal Lakes subdivision of Larimer County received a hearing in U.S. Senator Mark Udall's National Parks Subcommittee.

Senators Udall and Michael Bennet had been pushing for Senate action on the bill as soon as possible. Crystal Lakes homeowners have been waiting for a resolution to the survey error since 2006, when the U.S. Forest Service informed them that because of a mistake made in 1975, their lots were planned incorrectly, and their property encroached on federal land. The Forest Service had asked the landowners to buy their property from the federal government - again. The bill would instead move the boundary of the Roosevelt National Forest and transfer the land to the subdivision at no charge to the residents.

The bill was first introduced this Congress by Representative Betsy Markey. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2009 and has awaited action in the Senate since. While it still must be finalized in a "mark-up" by the full Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today's hearing means the bill moves a critical step toward passage in the Senate.

"Crystal Lakes property owners have been in limbo for too long and they deserve this fair resolution to what has been a very unfair situation," Senator Udall said. "These property owners shouldn't be punished because of a 34-year-old survey error - it just doesn't make sense. I'm very glad that my Subcommittee was finally able to move this bill forward in the Senate so we can get them some relief."

"Crystal Lakes property owners are finally seeing movement in the Senate that can bring a resolution to their situation," Senator Bennet said. "Senator Udall and I have worked together to move this issue forward, and I commend Senator Udall for ensuring this sensible solution is heard. It is a balanced and reasonable approach that has already passed the House of Representatives. I encourage the Senate to act on it at the earliest possible moment and finally get these families some relief."

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