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Thousands of illegal marijuana plants were removed from a California national park and it's far from the first time
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The National Park Service says rangers removed more than 2,000 marijuana plants along with a gun, hazardous chemicals and thousands of pounds of trash
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The Park Service says rangers found this site last year but couldn't rehabilitate it until this year because of the chemicals
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So far, no arrests have been made, but the investigation continues. The National Park Service sent a statement to Straight Arrow News saying, quote
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illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands is a serious crime that threatens wildlife, water quality and visitor safety
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Park rangers, together with law enforcement partners, are stepping up efforts to detect and dismantle these criminal operations
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sending a clear message that illegal activity will not be tolerated on our public lands
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Officials say these kinds of grows can have a major impact on the surrounding ecosystem
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Some of those concerns include water usage, clearing of natural vegetation and even poaching
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Officials say in the last 20 years, law enforcement has removed nearly 300,000 marijuana plants with a value of $850 million from Sequoia and nearby Kings Canyon National Parks
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
