The Congressional hearing held Wednesday on the Colorado River in Tucson could be a major step forward in the concerns of Lake Havasu City residents being heard.

Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen called his presence at the meeting a seat at the table and said he was encouraged with what he heard from members of the House Natural Resource Subcommittee on Water and Power.

"I got the overall impression they wouldn't have had this hearing unless they had something in mind," Nexsen said, referring to the possibility of future legislation to help with both the water quality of the Colorado River and sewer projects in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City.

The Colorado River Regional Sewer Coalition has long lobbied for attempts to receive federal funding for both cities' sewer projects and to assist in preventing pollution threats to the river water. Nexsen called Wednesday's hearing a possible step in the right direction, citing the statements and responses from subcommittee members were indicative they shared the concerns of Lake Havasu City residents about the future of the river.

He particularly pointed to the efforts of Congressman Raul Grijalva, R-Ariz., whom he said was instrumental in putting together the hearing.

"I think (Congressman) Grijalva should be recognized for his efforts," Nexsen said. "These hearings are not easy to get."

Grijalva called the need for federal attention to the Colorado River long overdue, noting the collection of federal laws, Supreme Court decisions, international treaties and regulations known as the "Law of the River," formed a legal basis for the government's responsibilities.

"The federal government has a long history of responsibility for managing the Colorado River water resources to assure the delivery of water and power to millions of users," Grijalva said.

At one point, Nexsen was asked how Lake Havasu City residents ended up with the burden of the sewer project. Nexsen said he explained without sub-divisions in the city, each area was built one home at a time, without the benefit of developers constructing a sewer system.

Nexsen said he was particularly surprised by comments from an Environmental Protection Agency representative, stating Lake Havasu City had been given $270 million from the EFA for its sewer project.

"I politely indicated our sewer project is almost entirely debt-funded," Nexsen stated of the city's current loan status for the project.

That funding she was referring to, Nexsen said, was loans from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, as part of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which does provide low-interest loans for fund water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment and infrastructure.

Nexsen said he was also encouraged by the responses he received from representatives of many of the water agencies in attendance.

"I had many people, whom I had not met, tell me I was a good advocate for Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City," he said.

Shortly before the hearing Nexsen received word a letter request for information about Colorado River legislation had been signed by a number of United States senators, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Harry Reid,

D-Nev., Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Sen. Dianne Feinstein,

D-Calif. Kyl originally requested the information from the EPA at a Boulder City, Nev., private meeting last month.

"We have five major senators really trying to help," Nexsen said. "That letter is very important, very important."

While the letter did not address the legislation CRRSCo is currently seeking to provide adequate funding for long-term protection of the river from many threats to the river, Nexsen said it might lead to determining which previous legislation could provide immediate federal assistance.

Nexsen provided the subcommittee with a written summary, detailing many of the long-term needs for the Colorado River. In his statement, he said they seek legislation that would help to develop an effective method of eliminating pharmaceuticals from effluent water, provide research for eliminating the quagga mussel, clean-up Uranium tailings and stop the spread of hexavalent chromium plumes and allocate meaningful funding to smaller communities to eliminate nitrates from the river.

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