State Parks officers ripped up about 75 marijuana plants Wednesday from a clandestine garden planted deep in the Willow Creek preserve extension of the Sonoma Coast State Park.
Investigators linked two men to the garden, Robert William Easter, 24, of Cotati and Vincent James Descano, 24, of Sebastopol, who were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of marijuana cultivation and other crimes, including polluting a waterway, State Parks supervising ranger Damien Jones said.
The garden came under investigation in May after a State Parks resource employee working in the park saw a man in the area who ducked and tried to hide, Jones said.
Rangers later searched the area and discovered the garden, which at that time contained about 45 potted marijuana starts, Jones said.
State Parks investigators used surveillance and evidence at the site to track the men through receipts, vendor surveillance images and on-the-ground detective work, Jones said.
On Wednesday, teams of officers went to two locations to arrest the men and another team headed to the marijuana site to destroy the plants.
At the site, which was about a quarter-mile from a main dirt country road that traverses the park, they found at least 75 immature plants in the ground and a .357 pistol, Jones said.
A seasonal tributary of the north branch of the Willow Creek had been diverted to irrigate the plants.
"They dammed it up, lined it with plastic and ponded the water," Jones said.
The make-shift irrigation system used a plastic kiddie pool, irrigation hose and several pumps. Chemicals such as fertilizer were also found near the waterway.
The unnamed tributary is "very sensitive habitat," Jones said. "It is one of the last good habitats for the coho salmon."
"Even if the fish aren't in these tributaries, if they're downstream they're affected by what's above, especially pesticides and sediment," Jones said.
Fish and Wildlife also assisted in the raid to determine potential damage to the waterway and ecosystem.
Easter was arrested at a trailer on Crystal Drive in Cotati, where officers also found a honey oil manufacturing lab, Jones said. Easter was also arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and concentrated cannabis as well as manufacturing or preparing a controlled substance, Jones said.
Descano was arrested at an apartment on Calder Avenue in Sebastopol on suspicion of marijuana possession with intent to sell and possession of psilocybin, or hallucinogenic mushrooms, Jones said.
Officers seized a .22 caliber rifle and a .45 caliber handgun from the apartment.
Both Easter and Descano were also arrested on suspicion of marijuana cultivation, possession of a concealed firearm, littering within 150 feet of a waterway, depositing deleterious substance into a waterway, unauthorized streambed diversion and vandalism, Jones said.
The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office environmental crimes unit and the Sheriff's Office are also investigating the cultivation case.
(You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.)
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