Marijuana Garden Eradicated in White Mountains at 9,400 Foot Elevation

Earlier this week law enforcement officials from the Forest Service and Esmeralda County successfully eradicated nearly 13,000 marijuana plants growing in Middle Creek Canyon in the Boundary Peak Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest. This was the second garden to be eradicated within the last month from the east side of the White Mountains.

This marijuana garden was growing in rugged, steep country at 9,400 feet elevation. This was the highest elevation garden that these law enforcement officers had experienced in their 15 years of eradicating illegal gardens on public land. There was evidence to suggest that the operation was linked to a Mexican drug trafficking organization.
In addition to the removal of the plants, 1000 pounds of trash was also removed from the garden with the help of an excellent contract helicopter. The whole operation was completed in one intense day of work and no injuries were incurred.

Illegal marijuana growing is an increasing problem on public lands throughout the west. National forest lands are becoming increasingly used for growing and harvesting illegal marijuana gardens; however this type of activity is new to the east side of the White Mountains, and to the Inyo National Forest in general.

The discovery of these gardens has prompted national forest officials to advise the public to be vigilant when visiting remote areas of the national forest. "Although we see absolutely no need for the public to stay away from any area of the Inyo National Forest, we do want people to be aware that this is going on and to know what to do if they encounter marijuana gardens on the forest," said Special Agent Diana Nichols.

Most marijuana gardens are grown in very remote locations, and they are usually a distance away from areas that are frequented by the public. The Inyo National Forest is a vast, two million acre national forest with many very remote and almost inaccessible areas. Irrigation systems can be easily set up from meandering stretches of the many creeks and streams. Plants are normally put into the ground between May and June and harvested in late September through November. The harvesting time for most marijuana gardens coincides with hunting season, and hunters are advised to be "heads up" in their travels through areas that are "off the beaten path."

Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Rich Watt advises, "If a forest visitor comes upon something suspicious, don't enter the area; just leave and notify local law enforcement authorities immediately. Do not enter any garden area."

While visiting and recreating on the national forest there are some things to watch for which may indicate marijuana is being grown in the area. They can include:

* Isolated tents in the forest where no recreational activity is present.
* The utilization of trailers with no evidence of recreational activities.
* A pattern of vehicular traffic or a particular vehicle seen in the same isolated area on a regular basis.
* Unusual structures located in remote forest areas, with buckets, garden tools, fertilizer bags, etc.
* Signs of cultivation or soil disturbance in unlikely areas.
* Black piping and trash scattered in forested areas.

In addition to the criminal nature of the marijuana gardens, there is substantial environmental degradation caused by the illegal growers. Herbicides and pesticides used to remove competing vegetation and gnawing rodents, and human waste and garbage, all end up in streams after winter rains. Also, the irrigation systems can dewater small streams and compact soil in the gardens, leading to erosion.

hxxp://tinyurl.com/4ws5oc

FruityBud said:

Earlier this week law enforcement officials from the Forest Service and Esmeralda County successfully eradicated nearly 13,000 marijuana plants growing in Middle Creek Canyon in the Boundary Peak Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest. This was the second garden to be eradicated within the last month from the east side of the White Mountains.

This marijuana garden was growing in rugged, steep country at 9,400 feet elevation. This was the highest elevation garden that these law enforcement officers had experienced in their 15 years of eradicating illegal gardens on public land. There was evidence to suggest that the operation was linked to a Mexican drug trafficking organization.
In addition to the removal of the plants, 1000 pounds of trash was also removed from the garden with the help of an excellent contract helicopter. The whole operation was completed in one intense day of work and no injuries were incurred.

Illegal marijuana growing is an increasing problem on public lands throughout the west. National forest lands are becoming increasingly used for growing and harvesting illegal marijuana gardens; however this type of activity is new to the east side of the White Mountains, and to the Inyo National Forest in general.

The discovery of these gardens has prompted national forest officials to advise the public to be vigilant when visiting remote areas of the national forest. "Although we see absolutely no need for the public to stay away from any area of the Inyo National Forest, we do want people to be aware that this is going on and to know what to do if they encounter marijuana gardens on the forest," said Special Agent Diana Nichols.

Most marijuana gardens are grown in very remote locations, and they are usually a distance away from areas that are frequented by the public. The Inyo National Forest is a vast, two million acre national forest with many very remote and almost inaccessible areas. Irrigation systems can be easily set up from meandering stretches of the many creeks and streams. Plants are normally put into the ground between May and June and harvested in late September through November. The harvesting time for most marijuana gardens coincides with hunting season, and hunters are advised to be "heads up" in their travels through areas that are "off the beaten path."

Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Rich Watt advises, "If a forest visitor comes upon something suspicious, don't enter the area; just leave and notify local law enforcement authorities immediately. Do not enter any garden area."

While visiting and recreating on the national forest there are some things to watch for which may indicate marijuana is being grown in the area. They can include:

* Isolated tents in the forest where no recreational activity is present.
* The utilization of trailers with no evidence of recreational activities.
* A pattern of vehicular traffic or a particular vehicle seen in the same isolated area on a regular basis.
* Unusual structures located in remote forest areas, with buckets, garden tools, fertilizer bags, etc.
* Signs of cultivation or soil disturbance in unlikely areas.
* Black piping and trash scattered in forested areas.

In addition to the criminal nature of the marijuana gardens, there is substantial environmental degradation caused by the illegal growers. Herbicides and pesticides used to remove competing vegetation and gnawing rodents, and human waste and garbage, all end up in streams after winter rains. Also, the irrigation systems can dewater small streams and compact soil in the gardens, leading to erosion.

hxxp://tinyurl.com/4ws5oc

Click to expand...

"trash scattered in forested areas" =/