Illegal pot farms pollute public lands with lasting effects
… For over a decade, [ecologist Greta] Wengert and her colleagues have warned that illegal cannabis grows … dangerously pollute California’s public lands and pristine watersheds, with lasting consequences for ecosystems, water and wildlife. … In recent work they published with scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, the team found that illegal grows pulsed pollutants from plastic, painkillers, personal care products, pot and pesticides into the soil that could be detected months or even years later. Some contaminants also showed up in nearby streams. … Force-feeding waterways the excess nutrients in fertilizer can upend entire ecosystems and spur algae blooms.
Other water quality news:
