Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jul 2015 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2015 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Nancy Roybal REPORT POT GROWERS TO HELP PRESERVE WATER IN DROUGHT Commercial pot growers worsen the drought conditions in Butte County. Marijuana's high water demands deplete wells. Growers divert water and transport it to stay afloat until harvest season. The Office of Emergency Management has stepped in to provide life-saving water needs for families. Groundwater supplies in foothill communities cannot sustain noncompliant marijuana grows. Citizens can help. Ordinance 4075 (Measure A) is only enforced if illegal grows are reported to Butte County code enforcement. It's a reactive (complaint driven) system that works well. Reporting pot growing activities is easy. Just call Butte County's anonymous tip line: 538-6000. If you prefer, go to the website: www.buttecounty.net and click on "Documents" to print the medical marijuana cultivation complaint form. Fill the form out and drop it off at Butte County code enforcement. A dedicated team of 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 Roybal, Oroville - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom