Over 4000 Pounds of Trash Cleaned From Illegal Marijuana Complex in Klamath River Watershed But Crews Face Dilemma of How to Deal With Miles of Plastic Waterline

One net load of trash consisting of food refuse being loaded into a trailer by helicopter support. Marijuana illegal cultivation site on Klamath National FOrest

One net load of trash, infrastructure, and irrigation pipe being removed from a creek. The pipe was used to divert water illegally from the Klamath River watershed.[Photos provided by IERC]

In national forests across California, groups are removing trash from illegal marijuana grows. Between April 2 and 12, the Integral Ecology Research Center joined the Fish and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, and a crew from the California Conservation Corps came together to remove 4,645 pounds of trash and infrastructure left behind on a cannabis cultivation complex of seven grows located in the Three Creeks/Tinkham Creek area of the Klamath River watershed on National Forest land.

“[W]e removed  over 2-tons of trash and 35,000 ft of black irrigation line [6.7 miles of line],” Mourad Gabriel, co-director of the Integral Ecology Research Center told us in an email. “One of the most difficult issues we as an organization faced with a success like this, is the dilemma of having to place 35,000 ft of black plastic pipe into a landfill.”

Gabriel said that his research center has been looking for environmentally responsible ways of disposing of the miles of waterline they have to remove from each national forest site.

“For example the next operation we are likely going to remove 70,000 to 80,000 ft of pipe [13 to 15 miles of line] and currently our only option is to have it transferred to a landfill,” Gabriel explained. “We have called and tried many companies in the past and the only option we have heard was for us to drive all of this pipe to a facility down in southern California and then pay them to recycle it.”

One option would be to give the waterline to gardeners but, Gabriel explained, “We can’t have the public merely pick it up if there is the chance it can be re-purposed in a clandestine activity…”

Gabriels said that the center is “still actively searching to get this component addressed so that the landfill impact is reduced.”

One net load of trash, infrastructure, and irrigation pipe removed from a local creek that was diverting water. Illegal mariijuana cultivation on Klamath National Forest

One net load of trash consisting of food refuse being loaded into a trailer by helicopter support.

Information from the Integral Ecology Research Center:

Organizations Involved
Governmental: United States Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations (USFS-LEI), California Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division (CDFW-LED), California Conservation Corps (CCC)

Non-Governmental: Integral Ecology Research Center (IERC)

Reclamation Organizers: Dr. Greta Wengert, Dr. Mourad Gabriel (IERC); Captain Chris Magallon (USFS-LEI); Lt. DeWayne Little (CDFW-LED)

Funding Support: Funding for the reclamation of these trespass cannabis cultivation complexes was provided by a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Cannabis Restoration Grant to Integral Ecology Research Center.

Logistical Support: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division and United States Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations assisted with coordination and provided law enforcement officers and vehicles as a force multiplier for this effort.Statistics

Number of cannabis complexes reclaimed: Seven (7)

Total number of independent sites reclaimed: Seven (7)

Location: Klamath National Forest

Watersheds affected: Three Creeks, Crawford Creek, Coon Creek, Tinkham Creek, and Browns Creek, all draining to the Klamath River

Species of conservation concern affected: northern spotted owl (sites within Critical Habitat), occupied Pacific fisher habitat, foothill yellow-legged frog, Del Norte salamander, southern torrent salamander, northern goshawk, bald eagle, silver-haired bat, and steelhead trout

Personnel: IERC (8), CCC (12), CDFW-LED (3), USFS-LEI (6)

Trash and infrastructure removed during reclamation: 4,645 lbs (2.3 tons)

Irrigation pipe removed during reclamation: 6.7 miles (35,400 ft)

Long-line loads: 14 loads (Total long-line flight time ~ 2.7 hrs)

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Dot
Guest
Dot
4 years ago

Could undamaged sections be coiled and resold? Or does the removal irreparably damage it? That’s a lot of pipe…

Trash
Guest
Trash
4 years ago
Reply to  Dot

They want o give away water line with possible poison inside?
They cant guarantee there was never pesticides or chemicals used in those lines. It would be best to figure out how to send it to a recycling place.

stuber
Guest
stuber
4 years ago
Reply to  Trash

Could it be shredded or chunked up and added to an asphalt thing for roads? They do it with tires I think, or some kind of fill insulation, or bags of insulation or water diversion things. Or, you could have to show a parcel number, I know that sucks, but maybe it would slow down the illegal forest grows. I remember wanting to buy a plastic septic tank to store food in like a root cellar, but they wouldn’t sell it to me because I did not have a permit. But i could be wrong. Also, they use shredded tennis shoes for arena footings, could it be used for that? OK, I’m tierd now, lol

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago
Reply to  Trash

Mexican mafia

R-DOG
Guest
R-DOG
4 years ago
Reply to  Dot

Just burn it

Boeredom
Guest
Boeredom
4 years ago

I think its funny how what was once a legal grow is called illegal because laws changd that aint even in full effect yet..

Trudat
Guest
Trudat
4 years ago
Reply to  Boeredom

Uh don’t think a cartel grow on national Forest land, diverting water for miles from a protected waterway to 7 growsites and littering trash was ever legal, my g

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago
Reply to  Trudat

Build the wall

Crystal
Guest
Crystal
4 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMP

Build a wall. You do know that it’s not just Mexicans at these grows RIGHT?????

Jayne
Guest
Jayne
4 years ago
Reply to  Boeredom

Not legal if on Forest Service property.

Ice
Guest
Ice
4 years ago
Reply to  Boeredom

It was never legal to grow on National Forest land where this all was…

Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
4 years ago

🕯There are plenty of active volcanoes around and even some lava tubes right below our feet. I’m sure they would incinerate just about anything. And its cheap.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

dirty. but allow plastic burning power plants. hmm. over regulation?

Chas
Guest
Chas
4 years ago

You outdid yourself on that response, Willy, that has to be the dumbest idea I have “EVER” read on this site. And there has been a multitude of them.

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Chas

Never heard of a sense of humor, huh?

I enjoy reading Willie’s commentaries, especially about hot lava.

BTW, being mean for no reason is the dumbest idea I “EVER” heard.

NoShitSherlock
Guest
NoShitSherlock
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

The most entertaining part of Willie’s comments IS the reaction from other readers to how off base he really is.

He is funny, like “haha, did you really just say that? ” kind of funny.

Sometimes he is funny like, posts on every article first but doesn’t have a clue on what was written but posts anyway, kind of funny.

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  NoShitSherlock

You’re just jealous.

Joe
Guest
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Chas

I thought it was funny!

Akiko Taniguchi
Guest
Akiko Taniguchi
4 years ago

How does traditional agriculture get rid of of the miles of irrigation line used and tossed annually for food production?

hmm
Guest
hmm
4 years ago

Thats different, trad ag does need to be eco friendly, only cannabis is held to that standard.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago

aluminum

Half breed
Guest
Half breed
4 years ago

You can recycle the plastic and get melt it and use it with other plastics

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago

I think that the BCC should be held responsible for properly recycling these remnants of Cannabis Control. Taxpayers expect the BCC to utilize the taxation proceeds where needed. If they can’t handle the responsibility, then disband the Bureau.

Seriously, the agencies that hauled this trash out of the woods should be commended. I volunteered to help clean-up three abandoned grow sites a few years back. It’s a tough job, but is entirely necessary.

In complete fairness to everyone in California, the days of laying black plastic across the land is over. We’ve all been victimized by the practices of guerillas running loose in the environment. Those times and the people are behind us now. Let’s get it cleaned-up and stop it from happening anymore.

Franky
Guest
Franky
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

Here, Here, hopefully, prop 64 will extinguish the black market once and for all. These guys are focusing on the past damages and rectifying it because it hurts us in the present day.

Why not similar to a gas tax where oil spill responses get funding from users, then these folks should be supported by a fraction of the tax.

Sky Redinboker
Guest
Sky Redinboker
4 years ago
Reply to  Franky

Black Markets Matter

Squeeler
Guest
Squeeler
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

I know people returning to guerilla growing that haven’t grown in the forest in years. Yea prop 64!

Faro
Guest
Faro
4 years ago
Reply to  Squeeler

Yep, guerilla growing on public and private lands is going to explode this year because of all the enforcement. And the renaissance of diesel dope. Way to go regulators.

Anotherop
Guest
Anotherop
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

Exactly, Rod. People really cannot use their own brains very well sometimes. Its been legal for a whole year or two and already they scream “OMG Look! It hasnt all magically gone away! legalization is a bust!”. Makes ya wonder how many people around here ever went to school.

LGR
Guest
LGR
4 years ago

Great work cleaning this trash out of our forests. Paying to have it trucked to SoCal and paying some relatively nominal fee to recycle HDPE is a great option. These agencies seize cash all the time and apparently have plenty of funds to fire up the chopper as needed. Its called ‘the cost of doing business’. Putting that in a landfill is pure cheap lazy bs.

Old Humboldt
Guest
Old Humboldt
4 years ago

I was curious about this group, the Integral Ecology Research Center, and what they do. Turns out they are a group of highly-educated researchers centered in Blue Lake doing a variety of diverse environmental projects. It all looks fairly academic so I was surprised they’re part of the cleanup effort and doing the hard-muscle work of cleaning up miles of black plastic pipe in the field.

You may be interested in their ‘Cannabis and Ecology’ program under ‘Research Projects’ and some of their videos on the subject. Oh, they’re also hiring if you’re looking for a gig.

If you’re mundanely curious like I was, here’s their website: http://www.iercecology.org/

Tiered of liberals
Guest
Tiered of liberals
4 years ago

They should dump it on the side of the road like the growers do, problem solved.

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
4 years ago

give it to caltrans
they maintain thousands of miles of landscaping in center divides and off ramps along almost all our highways that need some kind of irrigation

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
4 years ago
Reply to  clearlake fool

I hope Caltrans doesn’t put in anything that requires irrigation.

Asst chief
Guest
Asst chief
4 years ago

thanks kym for posting up the negative impacts of cannabis in our community

Bob
Guest
Bob
4 years ago

Curious question- a few years ago, Klamath salmon were affected with a parasite and record numbers died as a result of low flows/warm water and the (ongoing) problem was attributed to the water diversion of upstream dams. Since then, all focus has been on dam removal to alleviate the problem. The upstream dams have been there for quite awhile, prior to salmon health issues and marijuana cultivation has been increasing every year in the watershed. Could the salmon die-off have been more related to the increased cultivation and large numbers of water diversions than the dam(s) existence?

Just curious and maybe more informed minds could respond. Thanks for your efforts Dr. Gabe & others- it’s all appreciated in keeping up the watershed health.

Stoney Case
Guest
Stoney Case
4 years ago

What about grinding all this plastic waste up and using in road fill? Seems like attainable equipment and technology for our area. Maybe fill some of the potholes around the north coast with the by product? Aided and abetted by the next tax and permitting windfall from legal cannabis bestowed upon our County and Cities?

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago
Reply to  Stoney Case

It would have to be trucked to a processor, but that’s a decent idea. I don’t see why not just recycle it? They take black plastic pipe at the eureka recycling center.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
4 years ago

Melt it down and make a giant statue of Harry Anslinger.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  thetallone

~right on. Exactly, right on.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

~not where this question belongs, except that this thread is about cannabis, so humor me, please.

Did anyone in here receive in their mailbox, an Important Public Hearing Notice Local Coastal Program from CA Inc Coastal Commission? I’m wondering why i did. The hearing date is May 9 @ 9:00 am in – wait for it . . . Oxnard. Perhaps Kym posted it when power was off here week-end before last -that knocked out my 101 Net Link connection?

“The County” requested amendment for commercial activities associated with cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, testing, and sale of cannabis.

Gma
Guest
Gma
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Maybe the company is from Oxnard area. They need a waiver from the coastal commission to build a facility within the coastal area. Think kmart building. Just a random predawn thought.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Gma

Gma,

~thanks for replying. The CA. Inc., Coastal Commission’s North Coast District Office is in Arcata – 1385 Eighth Street, Suite 130. The meeting is to amend (for the 99th time), The County of Humboldt’s COMMERCIAL Cannabis Land Use Ordinance (must have changed from medical marijuana to cannabis when i wasn’t paying attention).

As you know, Oxnard is in Southern California, 527 miles from Arcata. It’s just one absurdity after another.

But hey, when you’re raping and pillaging, riding the backs of the people for all they’re worth, may as well as throw in some sight-seeing days and enjoy scenic Malibu -stay at the best hotels- as a farewell to six of the twelve voting members, whose term ends 10 days after this fiasco. Eight of the twelve hail from San Francisco. And three, one each, in Redwood City, Long Beach and Chula Vista.
I don’t know if Ryan Sundberg is still a rep. for the North Coast. I believe it’s either a vacant position (in fact, they all are vacant), or one of the Supes. was appointed?

The Coastal ACT does not allow Ex Parte communications that relate to alleged violations of the Coastal Act and such communications are not permissible.

stuber
Guest
stuber
4 years ago

Could it be shredded or chunked up and added to an asphalt thing for roads? They do it with tires I think, or some kind of fill insulation, or bags of insulation or water diversion things. Or, you could have to show a parcel number, I know that sucks, but maybe it would slow down the illegal forest grows. I remember wanting to buy a plastic septic tank to store food in like a root cellar, but they wouldn’t sell it to me because I did not have a permit. But i could be wrong. Also, they use shredded tennis shoes for arena footings, could it be used for that? OK, I’m tierd now, lol

Recycler
Guest
Recycler
4 years ago

https://mbapolymers.com/ might have some ideas.

TQM
Guest
TQM
4 years ago

This puts a fat pustule of a blemish on the industry as a whole. Thats why I grow my own.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
4 years ago

While the article doesn’t specify the exact nature of the irrigation line, I hope the people involved will talk to the folks at https://www.rotbloc.com/ in Bend.

They take used dripline from growers and recycle it into plastic boots for trellising poles, which can help encourage the use of non-treated lumber.

Big Bang
Guest
4 years ago

Oh for Christs’ sake, it medicinal plastic! Let it go man, let it go…

THC
Guest
THC
4 years ago
Reply to  Big Bang

LMFAO Seems like cleaning up all that garbage would be a lot easier if they WEREN’T wearing full tactical gear. In that first picture it looks like the guy actually has a magazine Loadout in his chest rig, along with a sidearms? WTF is he National Guard or something or is that just out fish and wildlife roll these days….

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago
Reply to  THC

I’m sure this Gabriel guy was filming a bit for National Geographic while doing the cleanup.

s
Guest
s
4 years ago
Reply to  THC

That is a Warden officer geared exactly as a LEO typically is PLUS he is handling the helicopter that requires helmet and safety goggles. Safety first man, no kumbaya, chocos and dead t-shirts when receiving hundreds of pounds of trash under spinning blades while ruining El Chapo’s day.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

Obviously, there should be a very high tax on plastic pipe. And plastic water tanks, which have been littered all over Northern CA. All plastic tanks should have RFID chips and a $5000 deposit, and, plastic pipe should have a $10.00/ foot tax. Talk to Jared Huffman, your highly effective senator, or to your idiot county supervisors!

It is certainly wonderful that dope farmers will be burying California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Washington neck deep in cheap bud! Probably this summer… Not to mention Canada…

What will kill outlaw grows, is oversupply! Also, incidentally, should be the end of Humboldt/Trinity/Mendocino/Lake County pot farming…

I liked the volcano idea, though…

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago

You can make some smart points Billy, but when you speak of the economics of marijuana you don’t know your subject very well. Stay in your lane man! Complain about the grow bros and pit bulls, I’ll stick with you on that.
The only oversupplied market is the white market. The only solution if you want the growing to stop is federal legalization.

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

It seems to always come around to the rub between the “taxed and untaxed” segments of cultivation. It’s a laughing matter to realize the “taxed” are bleeding earnings profusely.

We can only imagine how poorly a Federal “Legalization” could unfold. When we study the California rollout as an example (5th largest economy worldwide) the reasoning for the campaign messages were completely phony. Nobody wanted nor needed the sloppy middlemen we’ve got now. If we didn’t join the ‘legal’ club the states PR machine pumped-out falsehoods and deceptions directed to the honest and trustworthy “untaxed” side.

Somebody, somewhere, in the “legal” side understands how badly the voters and small-scale growers have been shafted.

I’ll go on record as saying … “legal cannabis” is poison for our future.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

Legal is poison.

Whatever, or whom ever, follows Legal, doesn’t know their anal orifice from a hole in the ground.

The feds, the warmongers that the masses bend over to, recently made hemp Legal. Now, the poor idiots at the state’s borders are tasked with knowing the difference between hemp and cannabis. Meanwhile, tons of Legal hemp is being confiscated.

What is it that’s so damned hard to figure out between law and Legal? Does anyone see the word Legal in America’s founding documents? Does anyone see the word democracy in the Declaration of Independence, the fed or state Constitutions, the Bill of Rights?

As long as communication is down on the West coast we can only expect more of the same. The great whore of Babylon – babble on.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Willow Creeker

While I do agree to some extent, with both of you, I believe that the eventual economic effects of the current cannabis farming situation, are still to come.

The government of California, and certainly the rest of the country as well, are not well prepared for legalization, and appear to be fumbling with the future…

I do not believe that federal legalization is on the near horizon, but, all government entities are hungry for new taxes.

It is more likely that the whole world will be buried in cheap flower, and, certainly, the folks in Northern California will discover the presence of an army of folks who want to take your livelihood.

Once again, contact your idiot representatives, if you like, but it is probably too late to save the general economy of the pot farmers in Northern CA.

Willow Creek is not a place I understand the politics of, but I have seen the huge grows there, and, I have been in your area over the period of a year. Don’t assume that current non pot-farmers don’t understand your business. I might have been in it, at one time…

Lots of other businesses, and economics operate according to principles and standards, which are what the cannabis business can appear to lack.

Black Market may still operate, but in the end, you may be buried in flower, just like the white market, and, the government is not in existence to save the farmers, small or large…

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago

I’m pretty sure mj legalization is on the platform of most of not every democrat running against trump. So federal legalization might be coming soon, or not. But as long as there is a market there will be black market growers in the brush.

some peoples children
Guest
some peoples children
4 years ago

way more logic than some of these people

Its All Fake News
Guest
Its All Fake News
4 years ago

I’m sure Pinterest has plenty of clever ideas to repurpose all that plastic! Maybe if we all get together, we can weave a giant basket. Problem solved!

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago

I wonder if the local water tank manufacturers here, in Fortuna can do anything with it? Also, there are people in Brandon OR And they make large amazing sea life skulptures out of collected ocean refuse. Wonder if they could use some of it?
https://washedashore.org/
Or maybe use it in some kinetic sculptures or other art projects?

Allch Chcar
Guest
Allch Chcar
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

Last I heard the company sold out.

SmellyBilge
Guest
SmellyBilge
4 years ago

Hope my grow does not get busted, 25ft of 1/4 air tubing. what to do? lol

gunther
Guest
gunther
4 years ago

Someone else is probably bringing in soil and water line there now. They probably pass each other on the road.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

Pakistani Scientists Discover Fungus that Can ‘Eat’ Plastic April 23, 2019

https://bit.ly/2UE9kK4