Workshop 1/11/23 — Cannabis Cultivation in the Yuba Watershed: Clarifying Common Misconceptions
Through Growing Green for the Yuba, SYRCL’s goal is to inspire the community to engage in sustainable and ecologically sound cannabis…
SYRCL’s vision is to inspire the community to engage in sustainable and ecologically sound cannabis cultivation in the Yuba River watershed.
Our scientists and concerned community members recognize that the environmental impacts of illegal, large-scale cannabis cultivation are real.
SYRCL wants to help growers understand how regulation can be a tool that allows agriculture to align with objectives that maintain water quality, and promote habitat for fish and wildlife.
In 2016, California took the positive step towards regulating cannabis cultivation with Proposition 64. Nevada County was the only county in the Yuba River watershed to regulate cannabis cultivation and protect our water resources.
In 2019 Nevada County adopted a Cannabis Cultivation ordinance to regulate the commercial cannabis industry. Since that time, SYRCL has advocated for environmentally protective language throughout the regulations, especially encouraging best management practices (BMPs).
SYRCL remains vigilant to the environmental impacts of illegal cannabis operations while striving to be an active participant in the regulatory process for legal cannabis cultivation operations.
As a community we can educate each other to ensure cannabis is grown in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way.
The most concerning impacts of illegal cannabis grows in the Yuba are:
The overuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, polluting the water and poisoning wildlife.
Illegal water diversions that result in loss of late season stream flow and dry up creeks. The diversions also increase pollution and algae blooms in our streams and rivers.
Cultivating cannabis on public and forested lands causes deforestation and illegal land grading, damaging habitat for native fish and wildlife.
Through Growing Green for the Yuba, SYRCL’s goal is to inspire the community to engage in sustainable and ecologically sound cannabis…
Directed by CJ Russo, Lady Buds tells the story of six women who, following the legalization of cannabis, leave the illegal underground market to carve out a place for themselves in the new commercial industry.
SYRCL’s Growing Green for the Yuba program aims to inspire the community to practice sustainable and ecologically sound cannabis cultivation in the Yuba River watershed. One way we achieve this is through education on Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Cannabis cultivation has been present in the Yuba watershed for decades and is expected to stay well into the future. Like many common agricultural crops, cannabis cultivation has the potential to affect local water quality and watershed health. In fact, the Yuba River has been designated as a “priority watershed” for cannabis issues due to severe impacts by egregious, illegal grows.