Pubdate: Wed, 19 Aug 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Jo Ann Herr
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n447/a02.html

TOO MANY POT PLANTS

In regards to "Up in smoke" (Letters, Aug. 10): Watersheds can cover 
huge areas and just because they are remote does not diminish their 
importance. The Eel River watershed is 200 miles long and covers over 
3,600 square miles, the third-largest in California. Most of the 
creeks in this area are spring-fed. Estimates are, there are 1 
million pot plants in just Mendocino County. Average water use for 
each plant is 6 gallons a day. That's 6 million gallons every day not 
going into the creeks and why so many creeks have dried up in 
Mendocino County. This water is crucial to the survival of fish, 
crawdads, turtles and tadpoles. It is horrible watching a creek dry 
up and find fish belly up, especially when it is caused by greedy pot 
growers with no concern for the environment. Agriculture has been 
forced to cut its water use. So should the illegal growers. Pot needs 
to be legal, regulated and taxed.

Jo Ann Herr, Oakland
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom