Rangers and local law enforcement officers seized about 20,000 marijuana plants valued at about $50 million from several marijuana plantations within the park this week. The sites were located in the Olema Valley and Bolinas Ridge areas in western Marin County. Together, these plantations constitute one of the largest marijuana operations ever found in the park or in Marin County. The areas under cultivation suffered extensive resource damage from the growing operations. A comprehensive resource assessment is being conducted, but preliminary estimates show numerous trees were damaged to make the site. Some of the illegal growing sites are in endangered northern spotted owl habitat. Several water holding ponds were dug into the hillside, and an extensive irrigation system was constructed to a spring approximately a half mile from the site. Growers were killing wildlife, diverting streams that contain threatened species of fish, and using harmful pesticides to control vegetation. Efforts are underway to remove all the garbage from the sites and to begin restoration work. Participating in the operation were rangers from Point Reyes and Golden Gate, Park Police officers, and officers from Marin and Sonoma County agencies. Click on “More Information” below for a report on a previous marijuana eradication operation in the park this summer.
