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Forest Supervisor Warns Staff: Stay Out Of The Woods
Record-Bee | 06/22/2006

COVELO -- Concerns for the safety of Forest Service employees has caused the Mendocino National Forest's supervisor to direct his staff not to work in the woods in the Covelo Ranger District until further notice due to concerns about illicit marijuana cultivation.

Forest Supervisor Tom Contreras's order was announced Wednesday. Forest officials say Contreras made the decision following last weekend's fatal shooting of two Covelo men who, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), happened into a commercial marijuana grow on Murphy Ridge Road.

On Sunday MCSO arrested four suspects on marijuana cultivation charges for illegal marijuana grows located in the area of the shootings. Two of the men camping in the garden Santa Rosa residents Rick Sanchez, 38, and Rafeal Gutierrez, 34 were arrested, although MCSO has so far not charged anyone with the two mens' murders. The case is still under investigation.

Meanwhile, authorities eradicated approximately 5,000 marijuana plants they located in the area.

Citing concerns for employees' safety, Contreras said Forest Service staff may only conduct only emergency response activities while accompanied by law enforcement officers within the forest at this time.

Contreras also issued a word of caution to those who plan on visiting the district in the days ahead.

Forest officials report that illegal marijuana growing is an increasing problem on California's public lands. National Forest land, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular for growing and harvesting illegal marijuana gardens because of the isolation and limited public access, said Daryl Rush, Mendocino National Forest patrol captain.

The operations present a safety hazard to forest visitors and employees.

In the past four weeks alone, 50,900 marijuana plants have been eradicated off the Mendocino National Forest, all of them in illegal drug traffic organization gardens. Law enforcement officials expect to confiscate many more plants by the end of the harvest season in October.

"We don't want to alarm the public, but we want to make sure they know this is going on and what they should do if they encounter something when they are in the woods," Contreras said.

"This is a particular concern now since the summer recreation season is under way."

Most of the illegal gardens are in very remote locations, and are planted early May to early June.

Harvest activities occur in late September and October. The operations range in size from 1,000 to 10,000 plants and are guarded by armed individuals, said Rush.

He said not to enter any garden area. "If a private citizen comes upon something suspicious, don't enter the area; just leave and notify local law enforcement authorities immediately."


At a glance: Watch to watch for

There are some things to watch for which may indicate marijuana is being grown in an area. They can include:

Isolated tents in the forest where no recreational activity is present.

The utilization of trailers with no evidence of recreational activities.

A pattern of vehicular traffic or a particular vehicle seen in the same isolated area on a regular basis.

Unusual structures located in remote forested areas, with buckets, garden tools, fertilizer bags, etc.

Signs of cultivation or soil disturbance in unlikely areas.

Black piping and trash scattered in forested areas.

In addition to the criminal nature of the marijuana gardens, there is substantial environmental degradation caused by the illegal growers.

Excessive use of herbicides and pesticides to remove competing vegetation and gnawing rodents (which are a food source for the northern spotted owls), human waste and garbage all end up in rivers after winter rains. The irrigation systems dewater small streams needed by fish, and the compacting of the soil in the gardens leads to erosion.

For additional information or to notify law enforcement authorities of a suspected garden area in the Mendocino National Forest, persons can contact Forest Service Law Enforcement at (530) 934-3316.

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