“The illegal cultivation of cannabis typically is associated with unregulated pesticides, contaminated waterways, firearms, and damage to the environment. They pose a danger to our fish and wildlife, and those who operate them often pose a danger to our communities and law enforcement officers.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

MENDOCINO COUNTY – During the week of August 11, wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Cannabis Enforcement Program executed search warrants in the Ukiah and Laytonville areas of Mendocino County to investigate the illicit cultivation of cannabis with impacts on sensitive fish and wildlife habitat.

Other CDFW staff, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) team, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board assisted with the search warrants.

During the week:

• 21 search warrants were served.

• More than 46,000 cannabis plants were eradicated.

• More than 13,600 pounds of processed cannabis were destroyed.

• 13 guns were seized.

There was also one stolen vehicle recovered on one of the cultivation sites. Wildlife officers found two suspected poached deer, one of which was a doe. Seven people were detained The investigation continues.  

CDFW staff documented 213 Fish and Game Code violations that directly and indirectly impacted the Eel River and Russian River, and tributaries. Of those violations, there were 19 water diversions, one of which was occurring on state land. During one of the search warrants, a foothill yellow-legged frog (a California Species of Special Concern) was identified by CDFW staff. Lastly, CDFW staff found and documented an archaeological site impacted by cannabis cultivation operations at one location in the Spyrock area.