Senate Bill addresses water use of marijuana cultivation

Fish and Wildlife will now take a more active role in protecting California waterways after the passing of Senate Bill 837. Scott Bauer, a Senior Environmental Scientist with California Fish and Wildlife said, “It provides for additional resources for our own department, our watershed enforcement team, for the state water board and it helps us better regulate water use on marijuana cultivation sites.” Bauer estimates there were about 5,000 grows in 2014 in Humboldt County. He believes that number is even higher now, and says that means more grows and more diversions from local streams and rivers.