Some Trinity County Residents Being Warned to Treat Their Water Because of Pesticide Runoff From Illegal Grows
Press release from Trinity County Environmental Health and Trinity County Public Health. Hat tip to the Trinity Journal:
[Note: this is a press release and we won’t be able to call the agencies involved until Monday but questions we would have liked to ask include— if they have any cases of poisoning (I haven’t heard of any) and if they have any cases of water testing at poisonous levels at anyone’s house site. (If so, why didn’t they describe the situation?)]
Trinity County’s Environmental Health Director and Trinity County’s Public Health Officer are notifying the public about water quality concerns they have along the Trinity River and its tributaries.
Illegal marijuana grows on public lands are of increasing concern. According to recent study titled Sciencewith Solutions: Documentation, Reclamation and Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Marijuana Cultivation on Endangered Species (IERC 2017)1, multiple sites evaluated in Trinity County have tested positive for California banned pesticides and residuals of those pesticides spanning over several years, and they found that even sites that are several years old continue to contaminate the soil and leach chemicals into the surrounding area.
Illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands is often not cleaned up or remediated due to lack of funding, so many of these sites remain and still have the potential to contaminate Trinity County’s drinking water, the wildlife, the aquatic life, and the vegetation. These illegal grow sites are found to be wide spread throughout the South Fork of the Trinity River and its tributaries, the North Fork of the Trinity River and its tributaries, and throughout publically owned land in Trinity County (A list of known areas are listed below). It’s unlikely that current testing being done, even in public water systems, is capable of finding pesticides from these grows in the drinking water, and treatment to remove pesticides depends on the pesticide that’s contaminating the stream. Variations of hot/cold weather, and wet/dry weather can determine whether or not a stream is actively being contaminated.
One of the major pesticides being found in these grow sites is a US banned pesticide by the name of Carbofuran and because of the tendency of these illegal growers to use creek beds and proximate areas to cultivate, we have decided to warn the public about the potential contaminates polluting surface waters.
Carbofuran is a toxic pesticide of the carbamate class of pesticides and the over-riding concern is that most of Trinity County’s drinking water sources could be impacted due to the fact that most large water systems are water diversions of the Trinity River. We will continue to share more information as we receive it. Here are some additional resources/information links:
For testing of your water source at any given point in time (may not give an accurate representation throughout the year due to activity and environment)—North Coast Labs in Arcata, CA: EPA 531.1 – N-methyl-carbamoyl oximes and carbamates includes testing for Carbofuran and EPA 507 – Nitrogen-Phosphorous Containing Pesticides includes Thiobencarb).
The bottom line, and the point we wish to emphasize, is that if you drink water down-stream from an illegal grow site you need to treat your drinking water out of an abundance of caution.
How do you treat water before drinking? Many of the pesticides of concern can be treated with a Granular Activated Carbon filter and non-ionic polymeric resin filters. Individuals can Google NSF 42, 53, and 401 point-of-use or point-of-entry filters, or they can call our office at 623-1459 for more information.
Here’s the list of affected Trinity County waterways:
Bar Creek
Barker Creek
Baxter Gulch
Bear Creek
Bear Gulch
Bell Creek
Bierce Creek
Big Bar Creek
Big Canyon
Big Creek
Big Creek (Denny)
Big Creek (Hyampom)
Big French Creek
Black Rock Creek
Brock Gulch
Browns Canyon
Browns Creek
Canadian Creek
Cave Creek
China Creek
Clawton Gulch
Clear Gulch
Cold Spring’s Creek
Conner Creek
Conrad Gulch
Copper Creek
Corral Creek
Dark Can Creek
Deadwood Creek
Digger Pine Flat
Dobbins Gulch
Don Juan Creek
Drinkwater Gulch
Duncan Creek
Dutch Creek
Dutton Creek
E. Branch E. Fork N. Fork Trinity
E. Fork Browns Creek
E. Fork S. Fork Trinity
Eagle Creek
Gold Creek
Grassy Flat Creek
Hastings Creek
Hawkins Creek
Hayfork Creek
Hayshed Creek
Headwaters Grouse Creek
Headwaters N. Fork Eel
Indian Creek
Italian Creek
Jim Jam Creek
Jims Creek
Kekawaka Creek
Kerlin Creek
Kingsbury Gulch
Line Gulch
Little Brown’s Creek
Little Creek
Little French Creek
Lower Big French Creek
Lower Devil’s Canyon
Lower Eltapom Creek
Lower Grass Valley Creek
Lower Indian Creek
Lower Mumbo Creek
Lower Rattlesnake Creek
Lower Tule Creek
McAllister Creek
McClellan Place
McDonald River
Middle Eltapom Creek
Mill Creek
Miner’s Creek
Monroe Creek
N. Dobbyn Creek
Naufus Creek
North Fork Gulch
North Fork Trinity River
Olsen Creek
Panther Creek
Pelletreau Creek
Plummer Creek
Post Creek
Prince Creek
Prospect Creek
Quinby Creek
Red Lassic Creek
Rich Gulch
Ripstein Gulch
Rush Creek
Salt Creek
Salt Creek (Eel tributary)
Shell Mountain Creek
Smokey Creek
South Fork Trinity River
Sulfur Grade Creek
Thurston Gulch
Tom Lang Gulch
Treloar Creek
Upper Big Creek (HYK)
Upper Big French Creek
Upper Corral Creek
Upper Trinity River
Upper Tule Creek
W. Fork Van Duzen
W. Hayfork Creek
Wilson Creek
Yellow Jacket Creek
Article referenced above:
Gabriel, M.W.(1), G.M., Wengert(1), J.M., Higley(2), D.L. Clifford(3), R.H., Poppenga(4),
L.W. Woods(4), S. McMillian(3), S. Torres(3), (2017) Science with Solutions:
Documentation, Reclamation and Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Marijuana Cultivation on Endangered Species, Final Performance Report, Grant #F14AP00021, USFWS: Endangered Species Act (Section-6) Grant-in-Aid, http://www.trinitycounty.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5020(December 6, 2017)
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That’s just awesome.
Sure glad it is a sanctuary state. I’m sure they are sanitary with their poop also.
For real. Sanctuary bullshit. Why is our local law enforcement so inept when it comes to dealing with organized crime? Time for some local militias to walk the forests and handle the criminals seeking sanctuary and money at the expense of CA tax payers. Illegal immigrant felons can kill in broad daylight in this state and walk. When will CA issue cartel hunting licenses?
You’re serious? First off, your local law enforcement is organized crime and second these “local militias” you speak of, if they exist would most likely be growers, so…
Replying to “Matty” and “47”. You both bring up good points. However, I think that even if this wasn’t a sanctuary state, there would be just as much cartels and all that. It is illegal for a reason. I agree that we need somebody to patrol the National Forests and look for the grows. Whether that’s a militia or a police force is up to the people. On the other hand, I think that even if the militias were composed of growers, they would be just as effective, if not more. The cartels bring down the price of weed, as well as make forests that many of these growers like to hike in with their families unsafe, both due to pesticides and overzealous patrolling with guns.
I looked at the link and it is useful information. It is a pretty rare happening thank goodness but your first warning that a chemical has entered your water system may animals dying who drink directly from the creek or river. Luckily people seem to be more resistant to many toxins than their stock. But to constantly be on guard for the rare incident is most irritating.
OMG….what about Humboldt, southern in particular???
Where can one obtain untainted water, Trinity County Health Department?
Have had this testing on my property now for a few months. Guys come and collect the samples every other week. Would like to see more published on the results. The waterway is clean in my part of the woods thankfully. Wish these guys would release a map of test sites so we can see upstream and downstream of the problems. I am at the headwaters of browns creek and we tested clean but a mile down below us did not.
Are you above Deerlick Springs?
Yes, test sites above and below deerlick.
Now I want to nuke all the dope growers, I always did, but now more so. Do the sportsmen/women think that all the deer in the hills the last 5 years have been hiding or do you think they just drank the water?
Do you think someone who uses public land for growing dope has a problem with illegal meat? One of the cartel grows they found near my place had all the heads of the animals they ate on sticks surrounding their camp as a warning. I used to count 15-20 deer every drive to the gate, I haven’t seen deer for years except the occasional. Super stoked the liberals protect this. They should all wear shirts that say “I support violent human trafficking, an exploited workforce and decimation of our forest ecosystems!”
Yeah sure chuck. All the liberals support this. Good one. Take it down a couple notches- this isn’t a liberal vs conservative issue, unless you make it one.
Emily, my families water source is on that list and I am surrounded by cartels all summer. This year a hit squad was out here looking for some guys that abandoned a grow and I have these assholes staring me down like it is friggin Mexicali. When the illegals have balls as big as if they are a protected class then, ya, I will blame the liberals. That isn’t political, it is common sense. If you support amnesty for foreign nationals that commit atrocities like this then accept it. The national forests are totally trashed by these assholes.
https://www.thekindland.com/wellness/is-american-weed-being-polluted-by-mexican-pesticides-1534
Furadan. Mexicali go-to grow aid.
Yes nuke ourselves lets all be radiated yay
It seems ‘funding’ in Trinity county is always a problem. Unless of course you are on the Board of Supervisors, where there seems to be plenty of funding for giving themselves and other management raises. Just sayin’.
Unbelievable. 110 creeks?!!! That is off the hook bad.
I don’t drink the water because I don’t live there, but I play and swim with my family and dogs in a few of the spots above. Even some of the more remote and hard to get to places are affected. It’s astonishing to see the widespread scale of it all.
Can human beings really screw the water up so badly in so many remote places? Is there no decency and consciousness for the environment anymore?
I think I may get our two creeks tested just to see what comes up. Thanks for telling us where you can get it done. Does anyone know how much a simple test costs?
End result of GREED!! Now we need to make the land righteous again. Such a damn shame
DAMN SKIPPY
I call BS. Just like growers used all the water and killed the salmon….
I was wondering that myself. Pesticides to kill what? Outdoor doesn’t usually have problems.
I’VE HEARD JEFF SESSIONS WILL CLEAN UP THIS WHOLE MESS AND THEN WE WILL ONLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR ALL THE TOXINS TO LEACH FROM THE GROUND, INCLUDING OLD METH DUMPS AND WHAT NOT. DON’T WORRY DRUGS ARE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. KEEP ON PUFFIN.
Bullshit
Gee I wonder why all the children with autism , when did the grow scene get big? When did autism explode? Huh , just more free loaders costing the taxpayer more, carry on
That’s every creek and tributary, Humboldt should do the same testing. What’s the quality of our water? Central valley water is contaminated ask anyone in McFarland, cancer rates are high in children, agriculture and other contaminates everywhere
That’s every tributary, because they just listed every tributary with public land. They didn’t test every creek and or tributary they simply listed all of them a a scare tactic or a blanket statement, take your pick. I would wager that the testing locations that they did weren’t even a half ass attempt. But heh, it has people ranting about cancer and autism… they didn’t list how much they found and or where they found it, cause it is most likely BS. If it isn’t BS try releasing some actual information on what you have found instead of trying to impress people by showing you can read all the names on a map.
I imagine that the list was created by listing every water source that is within the same watershed as a grow. Which these days means every water source.
It does not mean every source is contaminated. But then some might very well be. That’s the joy of living with widespread violations of the law. Many of the people who put money over following the law are equally willing to put money over public health.
The last sentence says: “Here’s the list of affected Trinity County waterways:”
I would more likely think it means the specific affected waterways before I believe it’s a bluff or scare tactic.
I would also think it means it’s a very real thing, not a conversational starter for ranting about cancer or autism.
Yes, Humboldt should test their waterways. But our Board of Supervisors would have to do something rather than turn a blind eye and deaf ear to it. I don’t think they’re competent or proactive enough to do anything. Heck, they’re not even reactive.
Same can be said for any water run-off from big ag. Treat it out of “an abundance of caution”.
And I would.
But it’s medicinal and kills us?
That pesticide is outlawed…meaning it’s for outlaws to use…
Cannabis is legal.
So are guns. More so than pot. Doesn’t mean you can go out and shoot someone just because.
Hurry, somebody, and screenshot the stocks for “Granular Activated Carbon filter and non-ionic polymeric resin filters” now and after the news release. Also, take note of who dumped their stocks a few days before the release and then bought some more just before the release.
Oh, btw, there is no such thing as “public land”. Ask yourselves, where can we homestead?
Kym, I’m looking forward to your Q&A update.
Yep, It’s just a ploy to sell water filters! Sure! You definitely can tell the growers on this site.
All Defensive and in Denial! No, that’s not a town near Burnt Ranch!
Kym likes to paint growers as nice hippy folks growing a few plants. This is the harsh reality .
Ha and you believe anything the govt says.. as long as it lines up with your beliefs.
I had to stop drinking the water in my area Year’s ago after timber company had the headwaters sprayed .. I waited for months of rain to hope it washed out.. had to get drinking water in town or a spring.
And?
Sure glad it’s all coming from illegal grows on public land. Illegal grows on private land must be alright.
Would be nice to see some hey thanks guys for testing the creeks and streams. I do stream water monitoring and have been chased by dogs, bitten by ticks, chased off by growers with guns, trying to get defensible data for stream contaminants, so that you all can make informed decisions. Bottom line is unless proven otherwise streams downstream from any grows are likely contaminated, if not with pesticides/herbicides then nitrogen or phosphorus. Those of you with young children and babies should google impacts of nitrogen in drinking water and “blue babies”.
Thanks tm and others who have done the hard work to collect this data and make us aware. Please keep it up! How is that?
This reflects the bias of marijuana grows. It is not just illegal grows on public lands! It is also the medical and recreational grows on private lands.
There are very few sustainable growers who are conscious of environment and local habitats. Even a large % of organic herbicides, pesticides and feeds for plants are bad for the environment and wildlife.
If ever the value of real estate can be affected, I believe the announcement of contaminated water would potentially have an influence. Isn’t there an election coming in trinity co? The office of sheriff is looking for New blood. If I’m not mistaken one of the candidates is also in charge of the eradication effort. Its hard to get New residents to vote for you when the opportunity to get rich growing some weed Is the only reason they moved here and you are first in line keeping them from their pursuit of happiness. Still the majority of registered voters are not going to be New residents, but the life long folks who have now made a fortune selling groceries and hardware to these used to be flatlanders. And all those fish and game people who “arnt working with TCS” might just be first in line at your local polling place…..job security?