Cannabis Farmers Working to Prevent Water Pollution in Northern California

Northern California cannabis farmers are currently working with water control agencies and fishery organizations to reduce water waste and pollution and to adopt fish-friendly practices in their farming.

Illegal cannabis farming has negatively impacted the area greatly by introducing petroleum contamination into water sources, rodenticide poisoning of wildlife and illegal clearing of forests for farming. The Eel River Recovery Project has been working with cannabis cultivators in the Humboldt county region for four years now, and together they have held a series of community meetings focused on toxic algae blooms and local resident health.

The Eel River Recover Project is a program sponsored by the Institute for Fisheries Resources, part of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations. Legalization and regulation of cannabis farming in California has allowed agencies to work with farmers to provide support and offer best practices for conserving the river, which was drastically reduced due to drought and illegal irrigation. It includes a program for cultivators holding more than 2,000 acres to enroll in a regulatory program to combat the erosion and water that comes with farming and to control fertilizer runoff.

Nitrogen-rich runoff contributes to toxic algae blooms, reduces oxygen in the water and wastes applied fertilizer. Instead, farmers are encouraged to use vermiculture, mushrooms, and use ingredients from the farm or forest to provide a nutrient-rich soil that helps retain water, allowing farmers to use less. Toxic algae blooms and cyanobacteria blooms are being tracked and reported, and buffers created on farms help prevent runoff of fertilizers and trap nutrients.

The farmers are also working to use less of the river as a water source. The program’s resources show them how to collect rainwater, use greywater to water crops and focus irrigation at the roots to help conserve water use. Cultivators are also encouraged to equip water tanks with float valves and shut offs to prevent waste, and to avoid introducing invasive aquatic species to any ponds used to store water.

Temperatures are being collected regularly to find patterns, and historical insight may show the project how climate change will affect the riverbed.

An added bonus for the farmers is the potential to label their product as sustainably farmed and “fish friendly” to give them a competitive edge in the market.