Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jun 2014
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2014 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Jason Dearen, Associated Press
Page: A6

MEDICAL MARIJUANA FARMS DRAINING DROUGHT-STRICKEN STREAMS

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 
- - an issue that has spurred at least one county to try to outlaw 
personal growth stands.

State fish and wildlife 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 both in California 
and states where pot is still illegal.

This demand is fueling backyard and larger-scale pot farming, 
especially in remote Lake, Humboldt and Mendocino counties on the 
densely forested North Coast, officials said.

"People are coming in, denuding the hillsides, damming the creeks and 
mixing in fertilizers that are not allowed in the U.S. into our 
watersheds," said Denise Rushing, a Lake County supervisor who 
supports an ordinance essentially banning outdoor grows in populated areas.

"When rains come, it flows downstream into the lake and our water 
supply," she said.

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

Wildlife biologists noticed streams running dry more often over the 
18 years since the state passed Proposition 215, but 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 Mr. 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 about 30,000 pot plants were being grown in 
each river system - and he estimates that each plant uses about six 
gallons per day over marijuana's 150-day growing season. Some growers 
and others argue the six-gallon estimate is high, and that pot plants 
can use far less water, depending on size.

He compared that information with government data on stream flows, 
and 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 
Mr. Bauer's study area, that officials voted unanimously last year to 
ban outdoor grows.

"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," Ms. Rushing said.

Saying they were being demonized, pot users challenged the law, and 
gathered enough signatures to place a referendum on the June 3 
ballot. They argue that grow restrictions like the ones being voted 
on in Lake County lump the 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 McLean, 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, Mr. Bauer hopes his study will lead to better 
collaboration with growers to help police illegal use of water and pesticides.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom