Posted on 07/07/2014 9:40:48 PM PDT by Steelfish
Water-Guzzling Pot Plants Draining Drought-Wracked California BY HARRIET TAYLOR
California cannabis growers may be making millions, but their thirsty plants are sucking up a priceless resource: water. Now scientists say that if no action is taken in the drought-wracked state, the consequences for fisheries and wildlife will be dire.
"If this activity continues on the trajectory it's on, we're looking at potentially streams going dry, streams that harbor endangered fish species like salmon, steelhead," said Scott Bauer of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Studying aerial photographs of four watersheds within northern California's so-called Emerald Triangle, Bauer found that the area under marijuana cultivation doubled between 2009 and 2012. It continues to grow, with increasing environmental consequences.
Bauer presented data to CNBC indicating that growers are drawing more than 156,000 gallons of water from a single tributary of the Eel River, in Mendocino County, every day.
The average marijuana plant needs about 6 gallons of water a day, depending on its size and whether it's grown inside or outside, according to a local report that cited research. Pot growers object to that number, saying that the actual water use of a pot plant is much less.
Although the marijuana business has helped revive the local economy, residents may now be feeling the effects of living alongside growers. And, as growers—some legal, some not—face a severe drought, local law enforcement officers expect the fight over natural resources to intensify.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Geez, this is not about pot plants. It’s always been about politics.
If there is no food, then what will the pot smokers eat when they get the munchies?
Take a hit man, and chill out.
Remember:
Pot can get you through times of no water better than water can get you through times of no pot.
Are they marketing to Wash. State?
let them starve or eat each other
What’s a yard full of SoCal greenery drink a week?
No, Washington will be selling (starting tomorrow) only product grown within the state at permitted indoor farms (but the seeds/cuttings had to come from somewhere).
And it’s the enemy (criminal invaders) from Mexico growing the marijuana and wasting the water. Essentially, the messkin cartels run California except for one really nice place in Fresno!
They are deflecting blame.....
They are dumping millions of gallons of water from reservoirs
and now they are desperate to fix blame elsewhere...
lying scumbag Democrats.
lol
A very nice place. FRoasis
The Zombie Apocalypse. Brains are full of carbs.
Don’t harsh my buzz, man.
If this article is correct, it’s not a matter of potheads dying from starvation, but from dehydration. Potheads are weak enough to die willingly for a fleeting feeling.
LOL. Wow, so that's all the drug warriors have left?
The wine snobs in Napa and Sonoma counties take way more water out of the Eel than the pot growers.
When they have to start importing water to grow the pot, the poor won’t be able to afford it.
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