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Important Message from Mayor Mark S. Nexsen
Hard-fought federal legislation needs your support
The Colorado River is one of the most important freshwater systems in the world. Not only do 25 million Americans depend on the Lower Colorado river for drinking and other potable water needs, the river also irrigates over half a million acres that grow over 80 percent of the nation's winter vegetable crop. Over 15 million visitors come to enjoy the river each year and riverside communities like Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City depend on those visitors -and the river- for their very existence.
The Colorado River is one of the most important freshwater systems in the world. Not only do 25 million Americans depend on the Lower Colorado river for drinking and other potable water needs, the river also irrigates over half a million acres that grow over 80 percent of the nation's winter vegetable crop. Over 15 million visitors come to enjoy the river each year and riverside communities like Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City depend on those visitors -and the river- for their very existence.
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In 1997, a dozen or so public agencies and Indian tribes with an interest in protecting the lower river's water quality came together to form the Colorado River Regional Sewer Coalition, or CRRSCo. The purpose of the organization was (and still is) to identify challenges facing the river, seek federal recognition of the situation, and procure funding to help stakeholders offset the cost to mitigate existing threats and avoid new ones. In addition to nitrates from septic tanks, other significant threats include the quagga mussel, an invasive species discovered in 2007, and trace levels of pharmaceuticals and other hazardous compounds.
In July 2008 and again in November 2008, I hand carried the CRRSCo message to Washington DC and key legislators, such as California Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva. I also conferred with senior-level staff members from the offices of Arizona Senators Jon Kyl and John McCain, as well as Nevada Senator Harry Reid and several members of Congress, including Trent Franks. I also participated in a number of high-level meetings with the leaders of several federal agencies, such as the Department of the Interior and the EPA. Finally I gave testimony to a Congressional Subcommittee on Water and Power regarding water quality along the River and the spoke of the hardships our citizen face in our attempt to pay for a massive wastewater system.
On July 31, 2009 Congressman Grijalva introduced the "Lower Colorado River Protection Act" or H.R.3481. This legislation proposes to create a comprehensive program under the EPA designed to research, monitor and implement solutions to identified threats to Colorado River ecosystems and water quality. The Act also recognizes the value of CRRSCo and includes it in the administrative review process for allocating federal funds to river communities like Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City that have been financially strained by their own efforts to protect the river. HR3481 also funds research into threats posed by factors like invasive species, pharmaceuticals, and the effects global warming may have on sensitive habitats, sensitive species and water quality in the river. It protects our drinking water, but in the short term, it will bring much needed financial assistance to communities like ours that have taken the first steps.
Now it is up to the rest of us to help usher it through the legislative review process and put it to work. Everyone reading this is strongly urged to contact the representatives listed below and encourage their support for H.R. 3481 "The Lower Colorado River Protection Act of 2009."
After all the work that went into getting federal help for our high sewer costs, it would be a crying shame to see the vehicle that can finally make it happen suffer or die from the lack of public support. Thank you for participating in this process and helping get this important piece of legislation passed. In doing so, you too can take part in leaving a legacy that will help protect one of the most important freshwater systems on the planet.
Call or write TODAY!
| Arizona Office | Washington D.C. Office | ||
| U.S. Senator John McCain |
5353 North 16th Street Suite 105 Phoenix, AZ 85016 (602) 952-2410 Fax: (602) 952-8702 |
241 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-2235 Fax: (202) 228-2862 |
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| U.S. Senator Jon Kyl |
2200 East Camelback, Ste 120 Phoenix, Arizona 85016-3455 (602) 840-1891 Fax: (602) 957-6838 |
730 Hart Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-4521 Fax: (202) 224-2207 |
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| Congressman Trent Franks |
7121 West Bell Road Suite 200 Glendale, AZ 85308 623-776-7911 Fax: 623-776-7832 |
2435 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-4576 Fax: 202-225-6328 |
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| Congressman Harry Mitchell |
7201 East Camelback Road, Suite 335 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 (480) 946-2411 Fax:(480) 946-2446 |
1410 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-2190 |