Rogue Marijuana Growers Impact Drought

The California drought has no end in sight, and state officials are facing new hurdles when it comes to finding solutions. In recent months, rogue marijuana growers have been devastating watersheds, sucking streams dry and even irrigating their crops from giant storage bladders.

In a hearing to discuss the effects of historic drought and rogue marijuana crops, state law enforcement officials voiced their concerns to Legislature over the thousands of gallons of water being diverted from California rivers and streams.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lt. DeWayne Little said that marijuana growth has increased steadily during the last 10 years. There are more than 50,000 marijuana farms in California, many acting under the protection of he state’s medical marijuana law.

“These are not responsible, reasonable marijuana growers,” said Scott Greacen, director of Friends of the Eel River. “I am referring to the young, rich white growers who are making their million dollars for the year.”

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman recalled his team stumbling upon a water bladder that sat conspicuously in Humboldt County, feeding more than 87,000 illegally grown marijuana plants. It contained some 500,000 gallons of water, pulling it from nearby rivers and lakes.

“We had never seen anything like it,” Allman said. “This is happening on private land.”

Miles of black plastic pipe can be found funneling water out of rivers and streams throughout the region. Fish Lake in Humboldt County was sucked completely dry with pipe, Pepsi bottles and Dixie cups, capturing every drop of water to divert it to the marijuana grows.

In October, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 643, which provides more regulations for medical marijuana, environmental protection, and water use.

“We really need clear rules to get to solutions,” said Greacen, the Eel River advocate. “Unfortunately our friends in commercial cannabis lobbying are pushing to legalize these large scale operations. There are certainly environmentally sound ways to do that.”

Hezekiah Allen, director of the Emerald Growers Association, said that law enforcement is concerned about the war on drugs rather than water conservation.

“We have always worked with law enforcement,” Allen said. “If we get the flexibility, empower farmers with tools, then we can see significant water savings.”

Most of Emerald Growers Association’s members grow marijuana for medical use. “We are farmers, not criminals.” Allen said.