[env-trinity] $1.5 million for environmental cleanup of illegal grow sites

[Tom Stokely]

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/local/article_0b04c922-3a91-11e7-96e9-4bede24f4b5b.html



$1.5 million for environmental cleanup of illegal grow sites
   
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Discarded butane canisters.    
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A chemical pond left at an abandoned marijuana grow. Funding of $1.5 million is being provided in the state budget to pay for environmental cleanup of illegal cannabis grow sites in Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino counties.“These illegal grow sites do untold damage to forests and wildlife along the North Coast and with Assemblymember (Jim) Wood’s leadership, we’re doing something about it,” said Gov. Jerry Brown.“Our beautiful pristine forests have become havens for these illegal grow sites,” said Assemblymember Wood, who represents these North Coast counties. “These illegitimate growers have continued to ignore not only state laws for farming cannabis, but have left these sites ravaged by lethal chemicals, clear cutting and thousands of pounds of trash.”The worst chemicals used at these illegal sites are often-banned rodenticides which are used to keep animals away, but in fact often kill pacific fishers, deer and bear as well as the animals that prey upon them such as mountain lions, bobcats, hawks and spotted owls. One-eighth teaspoon of the pesticide carbofuran, a banned pesticide which is used by rogue growers, can kill a bear. These toxins remain in the ground and eventually run off into rivers and streams, destroying everything in their path, including endangered fish species such as coho salmon.“These funds will go to our well-established Fisheries Restoration Grant Program which was created to address declining populations of wild salmon and steelhead trout, and deteriorating fish habitat in California,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “The $1.5 million will help us continue to clean up the egregious environmental damage, specifically to California’s waterways, caused by illegal marijuana cultivation sites.”The illegal clear cutting creates dangerous kindling for forest fires when the fallen timber is not removed from the area. Chemical ponds are dug and filled with hazardous liquids. The trash left behind includes generators, piping, storage tanks, thousands of butane canisters, other fuel and abandoned weapons.Excavated pits are used to store weapons and then covered with debris. All of this creates a dangerous environment for firefighters, law enforcement and recreational hikers.“The importance of this funding cannot be underestimated,” said Trinity County Sup. Judy Morris. “The future health of our watersheds, fisheries, forest and communities depends on the health of both private and public lands, in which public lands make up a significantly large portion of Trinity County. The cleanup of these areas will also serve to deter any future rogue growing activity, since the associated infrastructure is a significant cost. We are extremely grateful that the governor’s office and Assemblymember Wood are continuing to address this extremely important issue.”   
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