Lake County detectives eradicate 24,540 marijuana plants

Two gardens in Butts Canyon hills had drip irrigation systems hidden in vegetation and fed by water diverted from nearby springs.|
GUY KOVNER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Lake County sheriff’s detectives destroyed 24,540 marijuana plants at two clandestine gardens in Butts Canyon near the Napa County line, officials said.

The first garden with 7,569 mature plants was discovered by a hunter, Lt. Steve Brooks said in a press release. A reconnaissance flight revealed a grow with 16,971 plants being harvested a few miles away, he said. Detectives eradicated the plants at both sites on Sept. 22.

The sheriff’s office has wiped out 41,883 pot plants in the Butts Canyon area and a total of 310,000 plants countywide this year, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 707-521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @guykovner.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor