California State Parks conducted a clean-up operation that resulted in the removal of over 2,000 pounds of waste from illegal cannabis grow sites in Northern California’s largest state park.
The operation was conducted at Henry W Coe State Park, which covers 87,000 acres.
The big picture: The Cannabis Watershed Protection Program (CWPP) removed the waste from the park, specifically from the areas of Coyote Creek and Pajaro Watersheds, which are remote and rugged locations requiring helicopters for waste removal.
- The waste removed included toxic chemicals like banned herbicides and pesticides, invasive species, and damage to native plants and wildlife.
- Since 2019, CWPP has removed 29,000 pounds of waste from 84 grow sites, including cannabis plants, fertilizer, hazardous waste items, and irrigation plumbing.
- Despite the clean-up efforts, CWPP estimates there are still over 400 illegal grows on State Parks property.
