(Potheads Vs. Tree Huggers) Pot Farms Wreaking Havoc on Northern California Environment

Los Angeles Times ^ | December 23, 2012 | Joe Mozingo

[DogByte6RER]

Hoopa, California - Wildlife technician Aaron Pole surveys the forest where marijuana growers left piles of trash when vacating the area. The operation was raided by the Sheriff's Department in August, and deputies cut down 26,600 plants in eight interconnected clearings along Mill Creek.

[FlingWingFlyer]

There goofy windmills are killing the birds and their marijuana plantations are killing the fish. How ‘bout those enviroliberals?! They must REALLY care about “da planet”.

[TribalPrincess2U]

What if the government took over all operations?
Isn’t that the next step?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

So,why can’t Obama sic his EPA on them? Opps, forgot about the Choom gang!

[DogByte6RER]

Potheads vs. Tree Huggers ... this should be a good show!

[HiTech RedNeck]

The scientists determined the farms were siphoning roughly 18 million gallons from the watershed every year, largely at the time when the salmon most need it.

Just by planting upon the watershed, or is irrigation being snatched from the creeks or what?

I suppose it was only a matter of time until the envirogreenies and the potheads clashed. They deserve one another.

[political1]

Why not cross-hybridize pot with kudzu, and then let it grow wild. It would kill the market. Think about it; why buy pot from some dealer when you can just stop on the side of the road and grab some.

[allendale]

If they were illegal gold miners rather that marijuana growers, the EPA would mobilize a joint task force complete with automatic weapons to shut them down. The Obama EPA is a bizarre anti capitalist organization that is stifling entrepreneurship and the creation of real wealth with its endless rules and regulations.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Hmm...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eel_River_(California)#River_modifications

“There are two hydroelectric dams on the Eel, 130 feet (40 m) Scott Dam, which forms Lake Pillsbury, and 50 feet (15 m) Cape Horn Dam, which forms Van Arsdale Reservoir just north of Potter Valley. At Cape Horn Dam, the majority of the water is diverted through a tunnel and hydroelectric plant, and then to the headwaters of the Russian River in Potter Valley and is known as the Potter Valley Project.”

[tflabo]

But, but, but....growing pot is so green and so natural for the enviroment. Not like the poisonous toxins the evil corporatists spew onto mother nature. (’

[SueRae]

Can the rats and Hanta viruses be far behind? Look at that mess.

[faithhopecharity]

yes. of course, no farmer (of beets, carrots, corn, or marijuana) has to leave the countryside looking like a pig-sty.

And most farmers don’t.

the problem here is not the farming but rather the selfish pigs who are doing it

[KC_Lion]

[running_dog_lackey]

To paraphrase the fabulous furry freak brothers:

“Dope will get you though times of no salmon better than salmon will you through times of no dope”

[Fiji Hill]

There goofy windmills are killing the birds and their marijuana plantations are killing the fish. How ‘bout those enviroliberals?!

The contradictions of modern liberalism are truly amazing. Liberals oppose smoking tobacco for the harm that the smoke causes but support smoking marijuana, whose probably just as harmful, if not more so.

[Navy Patriot]

California reaps the benefits of the hippie Socialist Utopia they have created. May their crops always be plentiful.

[Boogieman]

No, I’d say the next step would be to take it out of the legal “grey area” they have put it in that encourages this recklessness. If it’s not quite legal to grow it, then the growers are of course going to be fly by night operators worried more about getting arrested for drugs than getting a citation for flaunting some environmental regulations. If it’s legal to grow it, the growers will have the same incentives the follow the regulations as any other legal farmers.

[sasquatch]

Here in the people's republik, dredging is illegal even though it captures and removes mercury and loosens compacted gravels that make it tough for salmon to spawn.
The arguments the Fish & Game geniuses bought was exactly the opposite. The legislation was pushed through by an Alameda assemblycritter. The lawsuits were intended to be heard in Alameda county, one where there has been no dredging. After consolidation (six suits were filed), it's heading for San Bernardino (thousands of mining claims)and our atty is an exFreeper. (I think he's too busy for his own health)

[Boogieman]

It already grows wild quite freely in most environments, but the wild plants are worthless for commercial purposes. They must be separated by sex at a certain stage of cultivation, otherwise they will end up with a negligable value as a drug.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Many of these growers are heavily armed criminals connected to L.A. street gangs and the Mexican cartels - they are not in the least interested in medical marijuana or the environment.