Pubdate: Thu, 06 Aug 2015 Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) Copyright: 2015 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559 Author: Nancy Royball STOP ILLEGAL POT GARDENS Commercial pot growers worsen drought conditions in Butte County. Marijuana's high water demands deplete wells, and growers divert or transport it to stay afloat until harvest season. The groundwater supplies in foothill communities cannot sustain noncompliant pot cultivation. The Office of Emergency Management has stepped in to provide life-saving water needs for families. Citizens can help too. Ordinance 4075 (Measure A) is only enforced if illegal grows are reported to Butte County code enforcement. The process is reactive (complaint-driven). Call Butte County's anonymous tip line (538-6000) to report noncompliant marijuana-growing activities or print a medical marijuana cultivation complaint form at www.buttecounty.net/dds/CodeEnforcement.aspx to drop off at code enforcement. A dedicated team of CEOs (code enforcement officers) make site inspections to ensure compliance. Butte County sheriff's deputies accompany them to assure safety. They are all doing a tremendous job enforcing Measure A. The final perk is water saved for people and wildlife. Nancy Royball Oroville - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom