Recently, US Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations (LE&I), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Integral Ecology Research Center cleaned up three illegal marijuana cultivation sites on the Inyo National Forest.
LE&I coordinated and funded this reclamation effort. The LE&I helicopter was provided for this operation.
Thirteen people from these organizations spent four days gathering trash, black plastic pipe, pesticides and other materials used for illegal marijuana cultivation. Of note:
- 3,140 pounds (1.57 tons) of trash were removed, including 8 loads by helicopter
- 4.87 miles (25,760 feet) of irrigation pipe removed
“It’s great to see these organizations come together to restore our shared National Forest System lands,” said Forest Supervisor Lesley Yen. “Reclamation even occurred in two sites within the John Muir Wilderness and in Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat. Protecting the special natural resources on this forest is core to the values off the US Forest Service, and of those who live near and recreate here.”
The steep terrain, remote areas and seclusion of the Inyo are a challenge to cleaning up the sites used for illegal marijuana cultivation. “I deeply appreciate the efforts of LE&I and partner agencies and this difficult work to restore the ecosystems and watersheds that are being impacted by pesticides, fertilizers, redirected water, and trash,” Yen said.
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Why is it these grow operations started months ago involving several people were not detected until the perpetrators could harvest their several million-dollar crop and leave with impunity? This is a pattern that repeats itself every year for decades, why? Lacking an explanation Forest Service management is either bought or incompetent. With drone and other technology, it would be easy to detect these illegal operations and stop them as they start in the spring. This would deter future operations. If the Forest Service was proactive restoration and reclamation would not be necessary.
The press release is so politically correct it fails to mention who the likely suspects are, the Mexican Drug Cartels. There would be evidence at the sites confirming that, but in the deep state that would somehow be racist to even mention. If a hiker inadvertently wondered into one of these sites, I see no reason why they would not be murdered. What was the cost to the tax payers for this clean-up? How many gallons of the illegal pesticide Carbofuran was found/used on these sites? What impact did this have on water quality for both humans and animals? Why doesn’t the agency publish the exact location of these sites so the public can witness the destruction and/or avoid them?
Fentanyl which originates in China is brought into the US across our southern border by the cartels has killed nearly 60,000 Americans last year. The media who assigns the public their opinions all but ignores this threat to the United States.
In contrast a 6-6-21 press release from acting US Attorney Phillip Talbert indicated that after a lengthy investigation and sting operation they arrested a citizen for selling snowboarding lessons without a permit (an un-documented ski instructor) at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. After a trial the citizen paid a $500 fine. The optics of protecting the profits of a billion-dollar transnational corporation while ignoring all the numerous resource violations on the Inyo speaks volumes. The silence of the environmental community perpetuates this problem. I would appreciate Forest Supervisor Lesley Yen, using critical thinking skills over feelings to explain what I got wrong?
Could not have said it better.
g g,
Want to eliminate illegal grows? Follow Uruguay. Legalize federally. Allow adults to grow at home. Set a retail price below black market and subsidize if necessary . Put health and safety of citizens before greed for sin taxes.
Let American farmers flood the market with medium grade pot. You could eliminate the black market in a few short years..
If you’re really worried about deep states why in hell would you want to perpetuate the drug war and hand out drones? Strong black markets are what fund clandestine organizations.
Yeah , May as well get every Citizen in the United Addicted to POT so no one can get through a day without Self Medicating whenever a little Stress or Anxiety comes along .
Anyone arrested silly question