GROWING PROBLEMS
An illegal grow operation that was happening on about five-acres of the Pike National Forest was discovered by the U.S. Forest Service just west of Colorado Springs, about six miles outside of Woodland Park in early August. Federal authorities removed 18,300 cannabis plants from the illegal grow operation.
According to The Denver Post, the U.S. Forest Service stated that it had also seized 2,000 pounds of cannabis growing infrastructure, which included camping gear, chemicals, irrigation pipe, 50-pound bags of fertilizer and tarps. It was also reported that the official agency leading the investigation to find who is responsible for this grow is the forest service, although the Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso County Sheriff Office SWAT Team and Department of Homeland Security are assisting in the case.
The week prior to this discovery, a different illegal cannabis grow operation was found inside San Isabel National Forest. The agencies who discovered this grow were able to remove 13,450 plants and a loaded shotgun. The task force also confiscated more than 1,000 pounds of growing infrastructure, which included camping gear, irrigation piping, flammable liquids and pesticides.
“An average size marijuana plot of approximately 1,000 plants requires up to 5,000 gallons of water daily.”
The Forest Service said in a statement in response to this grow, “These illegal activities can also damage sensitive riparian areas, are often harmful or fatal to wildlife, and lead to other environmental problems.”
The federal Fire Service works hard to maintain the integrity of the land. This is because forests provide us with materials for our everyday life, from lumber to clean air and water. On the U.S. Forest Service website, it says, “We must take care to sustainably manage our natural resources to meet current and future needs. This is one of the main goals of the Forest Service.”
A past press release by the Forest Service entitled “Nation’s forests are severely damaged by marijuana grow sites” outlined the various ways the Forest Service and the environment is negatively affected by cannabis grows. “The effects of marijuana sites on natural resources are harsh. Native vegetation is cleared before planting. Thousands of feet of black tubing transport large volumes of water diverted from streams, lake, and public drinking water supplies. An average size marijuana plot of approximately 1,000 plants requires up to 5,000 gallons of water daily.”
The report continued by explaining how it costs tens of thousands of dollars to re-establish streams and restore land to its previous state. Also, when pesticides, rodenticides and herbicides are used in illegal cannabis grow operations in forests, wildlife and natural vegetation are killed.
No one has been arrested in connection to either of these large-scale grows in Colorado, which have proven as harmful to the environment and wildlife of our national forests. Cannabis should be grown in a way that is ecologically mindful and sound, and it’s up to cannabis activists to ensure our community is only using responsible and legal methods for cannabis cultivation.
