A marijuana operation with thousands of plants was busted in Sequoia National Park, where about 2,000 pounds of trash and hazardous materials were also removed.
The site, with nearly 2,500 mature marijuana plants, was actually spotted last year, but crews did not return until last week to remove the plants, garbage, and infrastructure due to the presence of hazardous chemicals, a park release said Thursday.
The site also contained a semi-automatic pistol and several hazardous chemicals, including about one gallon of Methamidophos, a highly toxic insecticide banned in the United States since 2009.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Damage to the approximately 13-acre area includes:
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Diversion of the natural flow of water from a nearby creek and installation of irrigation lines
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Construction of several large pits to store diverted water from a nearby creek
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Significant clearing of natural vegetation
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Digging of terraces into the hillside for planting of marijuana
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Development of campsites, kitchen areas, and cultivation sites in a wilderness area
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Evidence of poaching activity
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Illegally maintained trails covering approximately two miles
Large marijuana cultivation sites can have major impacts on California's Central Valley. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a single marijuana plant uses six to eight gallons of water a day that would otherwise nurture wildlife and vegetation. In addition, water for personal use (drinking, bathing, cooking, etc.) and for crop irrigation travels from the mountains within Sequoia National Park to areas of the Central Valley.
Runoff from large cultivation sites may be tainted due to the large variety of pesticides that are used in growing marijuana.
For almost two decades, well-organized drug-trafficking organizations have been operating large-scale cultivation operations in and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. These cultivation sites cause major damage to the parks’ natural resources and are a threat to public and staff safety. In the last 20 years, nearly 300,000 plants with a value of almost $850 million have been eradicated in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
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