By Amy Sienicki
 
November 4, 2009
 
MT. SHASTA, Calif. - One of the most overlooked and under-reported aspects of the illegal drug trade has been marijuana's impact on the environment.
 
Law enforcement agents find many pesticides in marijuana gardens that can be highly toxic. Some of the chemicals they find are not even allowed in the U.S.
 
"These are chemicals coming directly out of Mexico. They're getting in the system, killing fish, and it wouldn't take much for them to get in the system here and then pollute a lake," said Captain Jim Betts with the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office.
 
In addition to toxic chemicals, water sources are altered.
 
"The first thing we try to do is find their water source. And then to establish how that effected the environment. We take those water sources out so that water can go downstream to eventually the Klamath River and other creeks," said Lieutenant Larry Harris with California Fish and Game.
 
Drug trafficking organizations use rivers, creeks and springs to fill reservoirs and run their drip and irrigation systems. Harris says it takes a lot of time and money to restore those bodies of water.
 
"It's very labor intensive. And then you have to have the helicopter time. So with funds being at a minimal amount, it's hard to get the funding to clean it up," Harris said.
 
In a marijuana garden that was found in Williams this year, many branches had been removed from trees to allow more sunlight.
 
"These are living green trees. And when they come in here and they cut a lot of this timber down, they limb it up. And when they limb it up it allows the trees to get diseases and die off. And in sections like the one we're in now, it's been almost completely clear cut," said Robert Konieczny with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.
 
Scientists say the illegal activity could increase erosion, change habitats, and introduce nutrients that aren't ordinarily there.