Nightmare mosaic photo from a raid on private land in the King Range National Conservation Area. Photo courtesy Brad Job

I’ve been fascinated by water and the organisms that live in it since I was a child. When three years of sea duty made me fall in love with the ocean, I decided to pursue a degree from HSU in Environmental Resources Engineering, which I completed in 1993.

Since then, my career has focused on water quality and water resources. For the past 10 years I have had the honor and privilege of being part of a team of professionals that steward some of our nations’ most spectacular public land. In this occupation I have also been witness to many environmental sins that have occurred as a result of marijuana cultivation.

As a pragmatic environmentalist, it is not my job to deride marijuana or its use. But, similar to the environmental effects of logging, the problem is not necessarily that one grows pot, it’s about how one grows pot.

Regardless of how one feels about marijuana and its legal status, anybody that understands just a little about aquatic ecosystems has to admit that widespread cultivation has bad consequences for fish. It degrades the quality of our rivers and streams, which to me, are the core of what makes northwest California special.

In reference to one of last week’s cover stories about illegal excavation and un-engineered fill (‘Shocking’ environmental damage from outdoor grows, Eye, Jan. 18) I can attest that the additional input of sediment eroded from grow-related excavations permanently damages habitat for imperiled salmon and trout populations and undoes the benefits of millions of dollars’ worth of watershed restoration work.

However, increased sedimentation is not the only or necessarily the worst environmental consequence of rapacious pot growing out in the hills.

The giant hunk of failing fill is located on private land right above Bear Creek where it exits the King Range NCA could not be in a worse spot as far as fish habitat goes (notice the clear creek in the upper right corner).

Recent research has shown that 80 to 90 percent of the nitrogen in coastal watersheds historically came from the ocean, much of it in the form of return runs of salmon and steelhead. However, dwindling fish populations and environmentally oblivious pot growers have turned that dynamic on its head.

Now, growers dump hundreds of tons of excess fertilizer into these watersheds annually. The most obvious consequence of fertilizer overuse is increased algal growth, which is most likely why toxic concentrations of blue-green algae have been observed in the Eel River in recent summers. Excessive algal growth kills fish and the organisms that they feed upon.

In addition, outdoor grows frequently discharge rodenticides, insecticides and fungicides into the environment; divert springs and creeks for long distances; and leave vast quantities of trash and black poly-pipe behind.

And then there are the diesel dope grows. These operations often improperly and illegally store large quantities of diesel in plastic tanks that are prone to failure. And those that do use metal tanks almost never have secondary containment and often have leaks and spills.

A pile of dumped cannabis root balls, surely laden with fertilizers and other soil amendments, cascades down the banks of Liscom Slough into sensitive marine habitat last week. Photo courtesy Ted Halstead

It is worth noting that fuel distributors that dispense fuel into such tanks are also committing a felony. If anyone wants to observe the environmental consequences of petroleum spills in aquatic ecosystems, they need only to travel to an urban stream to witness the reduced abundance and diversity of invertebrate species, which are the base of most aquatic food webs.

Then consider the water diversions, air and noise pollution from inefficient generators, and the random dumping of fertilizer-laden potting soil. And I can hardly bear to ponder the sad irony of burning fossil fuel to make light to grow plants in a manner that is literally 99 percent inefficient, all while it is warm and sunny outside.

As long as the marijuana status quo and large profit margins remain, it appears inevitable that some of the worst crimes at marijuana gardens will be environmental ones.

The citizen’s suit provision in the Clean Water Act might be a big enough hammer to change some landowners’ behavior if a motivated team of attorneys and environmental scientists were to respond to a specific incident.

However, the sad fact remains that the underground economy is creating really bad consequences for the increasingly fragile ecology of our rivers and streams. But, if this letter makes only one grower reduce their fertilizer and agricultural chemical use or cause less erosion, the time it took to write it will have been well spent.

Sincerely,

Brad Job, P.E.

Environmental Engineer

Arcata

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Episode 1 focuses on the question that has been asked so many times before – just how big is the impact of marijuana on our local economy?  Using the resources of an economist, a banker, a business person, and yes, a grower, the show seeks to establish some working parameters to measure the impact.

Encore airdates

•         Saturday February 4th at 1pm

•         Monday, February 6th at 12pm

•         Sunday February 12th at 8pm

•         Tuesday, February 7th at 6pm

•         Saturday, February 11th at 5pm

•         Friday February 3rd 1:30pm

•         Sunday February 5th 5:30pm

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 Subject: Marijuana Investigations Case Number:  HC12-005

Date: 01-27-2012 Prepared By:  Sgt. Hanson

On 01-26-2012 at about 0930 hours the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, received a telephone call from a Detective, who works for the Reno Police Department in Nevada. The Detective in Reno, said that they were conducting narcotics courier activity on a passenger rail train in Reno. The Detective told a Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agent that they contacted a subject named Scott Porter age 35 from Arcata, California.

Christina Degiovanni

During their contact with Porter they discovered approximately $73,000 dollars in US currency in his luggage. Porter’s money was seized in Reno for possible asset seizure. Porter was released at the scene in Reno. Possible charges will be filed in the future against Porter.

Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents then responded to Porter’s residence located in the 700 block Park Avenue, Arcata at about 1000 hours to conduct follow-up investigation. When Agents arrived at the residence they contacted Porter’s girlfriend, Christina Degiovanni. When Agents were speaking to Degiovanni they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the residence. Agents then secured the residence for a search warrant.

At about 1220 hours a search warrant was signed by a Superior Court Judge from Humboldt County for the residence. When Agents searched the residence they discovered $49,000 dollars in US currency which was seized for possible asset seizure. About two pounds of processed marijuana was seized at the residence. The marijuana and currency was hidden in the attic of the residence. Agents located two rifles and a handgun in the residence.

Christina Elizabeth Degiovanni was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales, being armed in the commission of a felony and was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka.

Michael Downey, Sheriff

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APD brought multiple vehicles, including a a large, enclosed trailer to the Alliance Road residence. The house is owned by Anthony L. and Denise M. Fraga of Bayside. KLH | Eye

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GROW HOUSE WARRANT SERVED IN WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

 During the month of November, while responding to a noise disturbance, an Arcata Police Department officer noticed indications of an indoor marijuana cultivation at a residence in the 2500 Blk of Alliance Rd.

Patrick Michael Hawn

Twenty-seven year old Patrick Michael Hawn of Arcata was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:

·         11358 H&S- Cultivation of Marijuana

·         11359 H&S- Possession of Marijuana for Sale

·         11366.5 H&S- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance

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Eye Correspondent

HUMBOLDT – A five-county program assessing impacts on salmonids has named unpermitted grading as a major impact and one county supervisor said the effects of illegal grading connected to marijuana grows are as bad as those seen during the dark years of the timber industry.

Supervisor Mark Lovelace, who was one of the county’s most active environmentalists before being elected, made those comments as a result of a new regional study on habitat protection policies presented at the Jan. 10 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Dr. Richard Harris, the researcher who coordinated the study, said unregulated and illegal grading – including the grading that enables marijuana grows – is a problem. And Lovelace described its scale as massive in Humboldt County.

“It’s phenomenal,” he said, referring to photographs of grow-related grading that he’s seen. “And it’s shocking – and it compares with the worst of the worst from some of the bad years of the timber industry.”

Lovelace suggested that some of the culprits may even fashion themselves as environmentalists. “I think some people have a tendency to think that because they want to consider themselves good stewards of the land, that alone should mean that the work they’re doing is OK,” he said.

He added, “It’s very clear that there’s a tremendous amount of earth being moved around without any engineering, without any analysis and without any consideration of the potential impacts.”

Supervisor Ryan Sundberg said the effects of restoration efforts are being offset by the illegal grading, which he called a “huge elephant in the room.” He’s also seen the photographs and is disturbed by them.

“It’s massive amounts, it’s shocking how large and how many there are,” Sundberg said. “All that stuff has to go straight into the stream, so we’re focusing on fixing stuff here and then there’s someone upriver or up the hill that’s making it for naught.”

Sundberg recommended that the county try and get funding to “define what those impacts are and try to address them.”

County Public Works Director Tom Mattson said unlike many other counties, Humboldt has a grading ordinance – which sometimes isn’t heeded.

Speaking generally about the problem, Mattson said his department works with local non-profit groups like the Southern Humboldt-based Mattole Restoration Council and Eel River Watershed Improvement Group and the Redwood Community Action Agency to improve compliance.

The Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program began in 1997 and the study described by Harris evaluates how the policies and procedures of each county have improved watershed protection.

Harris said that overall, municipal practices associated with land development, road maintenance, fish passage construction and repair and culvert work have improved since the program started.

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Kevin L. Hoover

Eye Editor

ARCATA – Arcata’s Humboldt Medical Supply (HMS) cannabis center closed yesterday following receipt of a warning letter from U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag.

The letter, apparently sent in early December, was sent to HMS’s landlord, Danco Group and the bank which hold the loan for financing the property, which is the former P.C. Sacchi Chevrolet dealership located next to the Arcata Post Office, according to a source who has seen it.

The letter reportedly notes HMS’s proximity to the Arcata Ball Park, stating that it is close to what it suggests is a “playground.”

The letter was also sent to the owners of the building that hosts the Sai Center at Ninth and I streets, which is involved in a regulatory standoff with the City of Arcata. Sai Center operator Steven Gasparas has traditionally ignored warnings from authorities. His shop remains open despite the DOJ letter and denial of a Conditional Use Permit by the City.

The DOJ letter reportedly warns of both imprisonment and asset forfeiture if the centers remain open. It is not known whether Arcata’s two other cannabis centers, Humboldt Patient Resource Center and The Humboldt Cooperative have received the letter. Those centers are located slightly farther away from the Ball Park, in the old Isackson Ford building at Seventh and I streets.

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE SUBJECTS ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRACY, POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA FOR SALE AND POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

On Sunday, December 25, 2011, at approximately 11:20 pm, Officers contacted and arrested 35 year old James Bauer of Arcata for a felony warrant for Parole Violation.  That arrest led to a room at a Motel on Valley West Blvd.  In their subsequent investigation, APD Officers contacted and detained an associate of Bauer’s; 21 year old Jarame Johnson of McKinleyville.  Officers determined that Bauer and two associates were renting a room at the motel and were suspected of sales of controlled substances.

Agents from the California Department of Corrections, Eureka Parole Office were contacted and instructed the Officers to search the motel room.  The room had been locked from the inside and the occupant did not cooperate when the Officers announced their presence and asked for them to open the door.  The Officers worked with the motel staff and were unable to gain entry to the room. Once the door was forced open, 22 year old Michael Loughry, of McKinleyville was taken into custody without incident.

During their investigation and search of the room, the Officers discovered several pounds of processed Marijuana, as well as packaging and materials consistent with Marijuana sales.  An illegal weapon and a small amount of Methamphetamine were also discovered in the room.

Bauer, Johnson and Loughry were all taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for Conspiracy, Possession of Marijuana for sale and Possession of Methamphetamine.  Bauer was also charged with possession of an illegal weapon, as well as the parole violation.

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On 12-13-2011, 10:15 a.m. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 1800 block of Glendale drive in regards to a residential burglary. Upon the deputies arrival they met with the homeowner who reported unknown suspects entered her residence between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The victim had been at work and left her ten year old son at home sleeping with a neighbor watching her son. The neighbor’s residence is adjacent (about thirty feet away) from the victim’s residence. The victim returned home from work, locked her back door and went to sleep.  The victim keeps the back door of her residence unlocked to allow the neighbor to enter and exit the residence to check on her child.  When she awoke she noticed items were missing from her home including cash and a new Macbook Computer.

The victim checked her residence further and saw the garage where she had medical marijuana growing had been broken into, and four pounds of marijuana bud were stolen. The victim believed the crime happened when she was at work, and her child was sleeping in the home. The suspect(s) had passed the sleeping child’s room several times and did not wake or harm the child.

Anyone with information is requested to call the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line (707) 268-2539.

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Evidence gathered during the three alleged Aloha Way grow house busts. The yellow and blue items at right are bubble hash extractors from 1135a Aloha Way. Arcata Police photo

Gary Quillen

Kevin L. Hoover

Eye Editor

ARCATA – Swamped with promising tips about neighborhood grow houses and with no special events or other major crimes to draw away staff resources, APD continued its weekly series of cannabis busts last Wednesday with a trio of takedowns.

It’s been three years since police raided a grow house on Aloha Way off West End Road. Last Wednesday, Nov. 23, they were back in the subdivision known as Plum Village, harvesting another clump of low-hanging grow house fruit.

And in another case of threeness, all three homes – 1135, 1135A and 1163A Aloha Way – are owned by Jesse Wedemeyer of Arcata, who also owned a grow house at 1191 Aloha Way raided Sept. 4, 2008.

Daniel Sansome

In addition, Wedemeyer owns three other houses on the block, at 1100, 1177, and 1205 Aloha Way. He could not be reached for comment.

APD, with assistance from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office served all three warrants simultaneously.

Illegal marijuana grows were discovered in all three homes. The cultivation operations ranged in size, with the largest housing over 750 plants. Officers found over 25 pounds of processed marijuana at one of the homes packaged in individual one pound bundles. In addition, officers found over one pound of concentrated cannabis and a small amount of suspected cocaine during the searches.

The following suspects were arrested in connection with the illegal growing operations:

• Gary Ramon Quillen, 31, of Arcata, cultivation of

Dante Magnani

marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.

• Daniel Lee Sansom, 30, of Arcata, cultivation of marijuana,  possession of marijuana for sale,  maintaining a house for the manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of concentrated cannabis.

• Dante E. Magnani, 27, of Arcata,  cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and  maintaining a house for the manufacture of a controlled substance.

• Caitlin M. Enright, 24, of Arcata, cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale.

APD Det. Sgt. Todd Dokweiler said that the homes had been crudely adapted to cannabis cultivation via the usual means – holes knocked through walls to route wiring and irrigation, large ventilation holes cut in ceilings and electrical panels hacked to add capacity. A number of ballasts had been located in the homes’ attics.

Caitlin Enright

“The electrical here was probably in the top 10 for how much wiring they’d done,” Dokweiler said.

City building inspectors discovered numerous building code violations at all three residences, which necessitated the immediate disconnection of electrical service.

Despite their proximity and common ownership, he had no information that the grows were related. “It’s not clear that that’s what’s going on,” he said.

Dokweiler said the air on Aloha Way was thick with green cannabis stench apparently emanating from other grow houses in the area. “There were definitely other grows in the vicinity,” Dokweiler said. “We’ll be looking at them.”

He said fresh grow house tips come in every day, and that he intends to maintain the enforcement rate. “It’ll keep up,” he said. “We still have a long list.”

**************

City of Arcata

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE GROW HOUSE WARRANTS SERVED

• Gary Ramon Quillen 31 of Arcata, 11358 H&S cultivation of marijuana and 11359 H&S possession of marijuana for sale.
• Daniel Lee Sansom 30 of Arcata, 11358 H&S cultivation of marijuana, 11359 H&S possession of marijuana for sale, 11366.5 H&S maintaining a house for the manufacture of a controlled substance and 11357(a) H&S possession of concentrated cannabis.
• Dante E. Magnani 27 of Arcata,  11358 H&S cultivation of marijuana, 11359 H&S possession of marijuana for sale and 11366.5 H&S maintaining a house for the manufacture of a controlled substance.
• Caitlin M. Enright 24 of Arcata, 11358 H&S cultivation of marijuana, 11359 H&S possession of marijuana for sale.

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APD Photo

Note: This afternoon APD took out a cannabis grow house on Panorama Drive which included a small peyote grow. More details to come; meanwhile, here’s the raw, unedited press release. – Ed.

PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WARRANT SERVED ON PANORAMA DR GROW HOUSE

In response to neighborhood complaints, officers from the Arcata Police Department served a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 Blk of Panorama Dr on Wednesday morning.

Upon entering the residence, officers located a marijuana growing operation consisting of nearly 200 growing marijuana plants. Over 20 pounds of processed marijuana was located in the home along with one pound of physilociben mushrooms, a number of peyote cacti, 5 grams ofDimethyltryptamine (DMT), two semi-automatic handguns, one semi-automatic rifle and $8,000 in cash.

Elizabeth April Martin 38 and Alexander Schaffer 35 both of Arcata were arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:

·         11358 H&S- Cultivation of Marijuana

·         11359 H&S- Possession of Marijuana for Sale

·         11366.5 H&S- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance

·         11377 H&S- Possession of a Controlled Substance

·         11364 H&S- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

·         11357(a) H&S- Possession of Concentrated Cannabis

City of Arcata building inspectors discovered numerous building code violations at the residence, which necessitated the immediate disconnection of electrical service.

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