Thursday, July 29, 2021

Liz Writes Life 7-28-21 -- Need state and federal agencies to help Siskiyou County, CA

Liz Writes Life

July 28, 2021

Sure did appreciate Assemblywoman Megan Dahle’s press release in last week’s edition. It was titled: Illegal marijuana growers pose threat to communities, ecosystems in the North State. Boy, did she hit the nail on the head. The crime syndicates are working hard to take over our county. I am grateful Assemblywoman Dahle was able to take the aerial tour to see the immensity of the illegal greenhouse grows and toxic, garbage-filled areas in the A-12 Shasta Valley area.

State agencies, especially anything to do with the environment, should be aghast at the devastation to the environment. Why the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Guard, and the Department of Justice are not up here – in force – is frustrating and beyond my comprehension. Our county needs support from these state agencies.

Siskiyou County also needs help from federal agencies starting with more law enforcement. Our California Dist. 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa is seeking help from federal agencies. He has reported “threats” that have been made towards our sheriff and the county to the FBI asking for help. We also need U.S. Marshals, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Wildlife Service officials here to see first-hand the destruction and help abate it.

Last week, LaMalfa released four videos specific to the main issues with these organized crime activities. The videos are short from three to six minutes long and packed with visuals and information. You can find the videos on “Rep. Doug LaMalfa” youtube page. The name of the videos are: “Rep. LaMalfa, Sheriff LaRue and Supervisor Haupt at the illegal grows”; “Siskiyou OES visit to discuss Lava fire and illegal grows”; “Inside the grows and the impact on the environment”; and “Bulldozing the grows”.

LaMalfa said, “I went to see firsthand the massive amount of organized crime and illegal cartel grow operations overwhelming Siskiyou County. The rapid growth of this criminal enterprise was staggering. Just a few years ago the area was sparsely populated with juniper and scrub brush dotting the rocky hillsides at the base of Mt. Shasta. Now, thousands of illegal grows have filled the landscape with large greenhouses. Trash, illegally used pesticides, human waste and fuel cover the ground that has been scraped bare of organic matter with nothing but dust left. Nothing about the organized criminal grows in Siskiyou county is legal. These grow sites are destroying our environment. Local wildlife is now nonexistent in the area. This level of criminality cannot be tolerated.”

LaMalfa’s press release also stated: A court order won by District Attorney Kirk Andrus allowed a portion of the over 4000 illegal grow sites to be bulldozed and begin environmental remediation. The good work of Sheriff Jerimiah LaRue enforcing the water limitations into the grow areas has been effective in reducing some of the criminal operations. Siskiyou County needs the help of the Federal and State government to help solve this problem.

I send a big “thank you” to both Assemblywoman Dahle and Rep. LaMalfa for their huge efforts and support on this overwhelming criminal situation.

Garden

Yep, there was another deer problem last week. While visiting with friends in my living room, Ed happened to look out the sliding glass window to see a doe standing there! This meant she had walked up the stairs. By the time I made it to the door, she had jumped the rail and ran out the other side of the porch. Sheesh.

So the next morning, I doubled the plastic fencing and placed in front of the steps. It looks formable with more baling twine hanging on it. I did attach it like a Portuguese gate against the opposite fence. I also unrolled the netting at the other end of the garden fence to block-off that end of the porch. On Thursday afternoon, the doe was spotted standing on the patio looking at the porch. Darn, she will continue to try and get in the garden.

I do feel sorry for the deer and wildlife as there isn’t much food out there due to this drought. I was hand-irrigating the other morning and the doe with twin fawns strolled along the fence (wishful thinking). The babies were bouncing and cavorting around. They are cute until they get in the garden!

Began picking cucumbers last week and made two quarts of dill pickles. Volunteer dill is growing several places. It seems to like to grow with the pink hollyhocks. The garden looks like it is thriving as the pumpkin, tomatoes and zucchini plants are getting big along with the blooming zinnias, Black eye Susans, calendula, pink-petal Echinacea and four-foot tall comfrey. The rhubarb is holding its own in this heat and I continue to give it extra water every day.

May peace and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it makes you feel better!

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County. Columns from the past can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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