Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2009-2010 • Agency Response
Response to: BRING BACK THE DOG!

Response Form Grand Jury Report Title: Marijuana: It Cost More Than You Think Report Dated: May 12, 2010 Response Form*

Published: May 12, 2010 5 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 14 findings

F1
During the summer of 2009 citizens observed and reported to the MCSO that tank trucks were making unauthorized withdrawals of water under cover of darkness, from the Potter Valley irrigation canals and other locations. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The theft of water is a violation of California Penal Code §484 (petty theft) or §487 (grand theft, over $400). Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The GJ obtained photographic evidence taken during the 2009 growing season, showing water being diverted from creeks for irrigation purposes at illegal marijuana growing sites. Sheriff's Office Response: No Sheriff's Response. It is unknown where and when these photos referred to were taken.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Animal carcasses, human garbage, human waste, herbicides and animal poisons have been recently found at these sites. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Photos also show water being polluted by highly toxic compounds. These toxins are used as fertilizer and pesticides which are diluted by mixing them with water in dammed areas of the stream bed. Possession and use of many of these chemicals are banned In the United States. (See Appendix B) Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Illegal marijuana growers have been responsible for the clear-cutting and clearing of vegetation, and the terracing of slopes that contribute to soil erosion and cause damage to the watershed. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding. MARIJUANA: IT COSTS MORE THAN YOU THINK 2010 Mendocino County Grand Jury
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Some streams have been diverted and others have carried toxins downstream to rivers and lakes. These toxins have devastated bird and aquatic life and pose a threat to human habitat. Sheriff's Office Response: No Sheriff's Response. It cannot be confirmed that the toxins have been devastating to wildlife without testing. The Sheriff's Office agrees that toxins are a threat.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Firearms and "booby" traps have been found at illegal grow sites. Federal inspectors and law enforcement officers have been injured during the process of cleanup activities. Sheriff's Office Response: No Sheriff's Response. No Mendocino County officers have been injured in a County supported cleanup operation. The Sheriff is not aware of other cases.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
Federal employees have stated: "illegal grows of marijuana have left portions of the public land off-limits". People have been shot and killed at these sites. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
After law enforcement eradicates the crop, the materials used at remote sites are often left in place due to the difficulty and cost of removal. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
These illegal grow sites are often re-used by growers utilizing the materials left from previous grows. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The Bureau of Land Management, (BLM), has used the California Conservation Corps to clean up illegal sites. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
It is important for all citizens of the County to be vigilant and to report any suspected illegal use of water to the Mendocino County Sheriffs' Office Tip Line, (707) 467-9159. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The MCSO is qualified to be the lead agency in the County for coordinating responses and investigations of reported water related crimes. Sheriff's Office Response: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding. Funding should be made available for better training into water diversion and pollution investigations. MARIJUANA: IT COSTS MORE THAN YOU THINK 2010 Mendocino County Grand Jury
No recommendations for this finding

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.