Toxic Marijuana Farm Discovered in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park, home to the world’s largest trees and a diverse array of wildlife, has been plagued by illegal marijuana grows that are devastating the environment. A recent bust has resulted in the removal of nearly 2,400 marijuana plants and over 2,000 pounds of trash from a 13-acre illegal grow site.
The National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management worked together to remove the plants and waste, which included hazardous chemicals such as methamidophos, an insecticide banned in the US since 2009. This toxic chemical is extremely harmful to birds, fish, and bees, and can cause serious health problems in humans.
The illegal farm had been operating in the park’s backcountry, diverting creeks, poisoning soil with pesticides, and dumping massive amounts of waste. The farm’s operators had also cleared significant amounts of natural vegetation, built illegal trails and campsites, and diverted water from a creek to irrigate the marijuana plants.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that a single marijuana plant uses 6 to 8 gallons of water a day, which would otherwise support wildlife and vegetation. The agricultural runoff from these illegal farms can also pose a health hazard to communities living in the Central Valley.
The park service has been working to eradicate these illegal grows for decades, and has removed nearly 300,000 plants with a value of almost $850 million from both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks over the last 20 years. Despite the challenges, the park service continues to work to root out these illegal operations and protect the park’s natural resources.
