Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jun 2014
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2014 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Jason Dearen, Associated Press
Page: A11

POT POLLUTION

Medical-Marijuana Farms in Northern California Accused of Damaging, 
Draining Waterways

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Some drought-stricken rivers and streams in 
northern California's coastal forests are being polluted and sucked 
dry by water-guzzling medical-marijuana farms, wildlife officials 
say. The issue has spurred at least one county to try to outlaw 
personal pot gardens.  State officials say much of the marijuana 
being grown in northern counties under the state's medical-pot law is 
not being used for legal, personal use, but for sale in California 
and states where pot is still illegal. downstream into the lake and 
our water supply," she said. An environmental scientist holds a dead 
juvenile coho salmon found in a drought-stricken creek.

Many affected waterways also contain endangered salmon, steelhead 
trout and other wildlife protected by state and federal law.

Wildlife biologists noticed streams running dry more often over the 
18 years since the state passed Proposition 215, a medical-marijuana 
law, but they weren't sure why.

"We knew people were diverting water for marijuana operations, but we 
wanted to know exactly how much," said Scott Bauer, the department 
biologist who studied the pot farms' effects on four watersheds. "We 
didn't know they could consume all the water in a stream."

So Bauer turned to Google mapping technology and satellite data to 
find out where the many gardens are and how many plants each contained.

His study estimates that 30,000 pot plants are being grown in each 
river system - and he estimates that each plant uses about 6 gallons 
per day over marijuana's 150-day growing season. Some growers and 
others argue that the 6-gallon estimate is high, and that pot plants 
can use far less water, depending on size.

Bauer compared that information with government data on stream flows, 
and he visited 32 sites with other biologists to verify the mapping 
data. He said most grow sites had posted notices identifying them as 
medical-pot farms.

Pot-farm pollution has become such a problem in Lake County, south of 
Bauer's study area, that officials voted unanimously last year to ban 
outdoor plots.

"Counties are the ultimate arbiter of land-use conflict, so while you 
have a right to grow marijuana for medicinal use, you don't have a 
right to impinge on someone else's happiness and well-being," Rushing said.

Saying they were being demonized, pot users challenged the law and 
gathered enough signatures to place a referendum that is on Tuesday's 
ballot. They argue that grow restrictions like the ones being voted 
on in Lake County lump responsible users in with criminals.

"We definitely feel environmental issues are a concern. But more 
restrictive ... ordinances will force people to start growing in 
unregulated and illegal places on public land," said Daniel McClean, 
a registered nurse and medical-marijuana user who opposes the outdoor-grow ban.

While some counties are trying to help regulate the environmental 
effects of pot farms, Bauer hopes his study will lead to better 
collaboration with growers to help police the illegal use of water 
and pesticides.

Previous collaborative attempts between government and growers have 
not ended well, said Anthony Silvaggio, a Humboldt State University 
sociology professor who studies the pot economy.

Pot farmers believe they are being unfairly blamed for killing 
endangered salmon when decades of timber cutting and overfishing are 
the real culprits, Silvaggio said.

The environmental issue has divided the marijuana-growing community. 
The Tea House Collective in Humboldt County offers people with 
prescriptions medicinal pot that it says is farmed by "small-scale, 
environmentally conscious producers."

Despite efforts of some pot farmers to clean up their operations, the 
increased water use by farms is a "full-scale environmental 
disaster," said Fish and Wildlife Lt. John Nores, who leads the 
agency's Marijuana Enforcement Team. "Whether it's grown 
quasi-legally under the state's medical-marijuana laws, or it's a 
complete cartel, outdoor drug-trafficking grow site, there is extreme 
environmental damage being done at all levels," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom