Pubdate: Sat, 28 Mar 2015
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581

$2 MILLION SECURED IN FIGHT TO STOP ILLEGAL MARIJUANA WATER DIVERSIONS

As part of Gov. Jerry Brown's recent $1 billion drought package, Sen. 
Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, has secured $2 million in state water and 
drought relief bonds in an attempt to halt illegal water diversions 
from trespass marijuana grows in Northern California, McGuire's 
office announced Wednesday.

The bond dollars, which were approved by the Senate Wednesday 
afternoon, are to be immediately utilized through the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will create an additional 11 
positions, McGuire's office said in a news release.

Additionally, the new hires will join a marijuana taskforce created 
by Brown's office last year and will be focused on ending the 
thousands of illegal cultivation-related diversions in Northern 
California watersheds.

There will also be expanded funding for the protection of streams and 
rivers for in-stream flows, fish and habitat as well as water 
efficiency programs to benefit local customers, the release stated, 
adding 2014 was the first year since written records have been kept 
that both the Eel and the Mattole Rivers ran dry due to the historic 
state drought and a multitude of illegal diversions.

"Northern California has been particularly hard hit due to the 
state's historic drought and the thousands of illegal marijuana grows 
that have taken hold in our forests," McGuire said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom