BULLHEAD CITY – The infestation of quagga muscles in the Colorado River may be the key to getting federal money for sewers.

During Thursday’s meeting of the Colorado River Regional Sewer Coalition, CRRSCo lobbyist Terry Bracy said Congress has heard information about how the two water issues relate.

“Rep. (Grace) Napolitano, D-Calif., chaired a meeting of the Water and Power Subcommittee where Metropolitan Water District talked about the quagga muscle,” Bracy said via phone. “During that meeting we explained what we’re doing and we raised the question if the quagga food chain is influenced by nitrates.”

Bracy said Bureau of Reclamation scientists confirmed that nitrates play a factor in the food chain of the invasive muscle. And that means CRSSCO is on the radar of more members of Congress, especially those whose districts are served by the Colorado River.

“The quagga is a hot issue and our relationship makes us a little hotter,” Bracy said.

The quagga muscle is small — about 20centimeters — and with six breeding seasons per year can generate up to a million microscopic larvae in a year. The quagga has no dormant period and feeds all year long, using up food sources for native fish and affecting the natural food chain, often creating an overgrowth of algae.

The quagga mussel also is believed to be the culprit that caused the “dead zone” in Lake Erie, by exuding phosphorus and eliminating oxygen in the water, killing plants and fish.

The quagga mussel has been discovered in Lakes Mead, Mohave and Havasu and has been found in intake pipes for both Metropolitan Water District and Central Arizona Project, both of which draw water from Lake Havasu. It also attaches itself to piers and docks and can attach to a boat that has remained in a single location for a long period of time.

Meanwhile CRSSCo officials – led by Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen and Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim – will be making a trip to Washington D.C. next month to lobby support for a bill establishing ongoing federal funding for sewer work in communities along the river.

“We’re hoping to come away with sponsors for the bill,” Nexsen said. “Getting the Interior Department on board is one hurdle and the three water agencies have been very helpful in that regard.”

The proposed bill is the Southern Colorado River Quality Protection Act, which would require cooperative planning for water and wastewater systems along the lower Colorado River and the federal government to cost share in any facilities at a 65 percent level. Federal funding would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004.

With the various contaminants suspected along the river, and identified by the Bureau of Reclamation in a 2007 report, total cost for a river cleanup is expected to exceed $2 billion.

The Central Arizona Project, California’s Metropolitan Water District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority have all signed on in support of the bill, which is already getting looks from federal officials.

Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., visited Nexsen on the issue about two months ago and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., has been CRRSCo’s chief supporter on Capital Hill.

“We also had a good meeting with Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. He’s warming up, he understands,” Bracy said.

However, the Washington lobbyist said staff in the office of Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said the congressman will not be submitting any earmarks for the 2009 budget cycle, so his support for the bill will have to be solicited.

In the two previous budget cycles, Franks requested earmarks – one-time federal funding – for both Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City for ongoing sewer work.

In addition to meeting with staff and members of congress in Washington, Deputy Director of the Interior Department Lynn Scarlett has requested a meeting between CRRSCo and Interior officials.

Nexsen, Hakim and others with CRSSCo will be in Washington D.C. June 24-26.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.