WATER RUSTLING ON THE RISE IN DROUGHT-STRICKEN CALIFORNIA
by ECM | November 13, 2014 4:35 pm
Fire stations, schools, and public waterways among those targeted by thieves
By Miriam Raftery
November 11, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Water rustling is on the rise across California amid the worst drought ever recorded. A thriving black market for purloined water has arisen, leaving authorities scrambling to catch thieves and lawmakers looking to stiffen penalties for stealing water.
Here are just a few of the more outrageous examples:
- In Eureka, thieves stole 20,000 gallons from the Bridgeville Elementary School. Left with no running water, the school was forced to shut down temporarily, Associated Press reported.
- In the city of Lemoore, crooks hooked up hoses to siphon water out of at least four fire hydrants, according to an article in National Journal titled “Drought is taking California back to the wild, wild west.”
- Water robbers stole thousands of gallons of water from a tank at a fire station during the height of fire season in the Sierra Nevada town of North San Juan.
- Pot farmers have stolen a whopping 1.2 billion gallons of water – the equivalent of 2,000 Olympic sized swimming pools – for illegal marijuana grows, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Marijuana Enforcement Team. In the past year, wardens from the team have discovered 136 dams, reservoirs and elaborate piping systems to steal water for pot-growing, including some large operations on state park lands, NBC reports in the Bay area.
A major frustration for victims is finding out that the State Water Resources Control Board has just 22 employees to investigate water thefts statewide. In addition, penalties in some areas are far less than the profits to be made off the ill-gotten gain.
In Contra Costa County, the fine for stealing water is just $25. In Mendocino County, where stealing water is still a misdemeanor, one supervisor wants to make it a felony crime similar to looting during a disaster.
Communities are struggling with how to stop water theft. Some are setting up hotlines to report water thieves and sending out patrols to follow up on tips. Neighbors are also helping keep an eye on nearby properties, reporting suspicious trucks.
New laws are also being enacted to combat the problem. The PLANT Act—Protecting Against Narcotics Trafficking Act, increases penalties for trespassing to grow marijuana, which authorities hope will diminish water diverted for pot plants.
In addition, Governor Jerry Brown recently signed a law that increases penalties for illegally diverting water for any use to $1,000 a day – plus a $2,500 per acre-foot penalty. Those who violate a cease-and-desist order can have penalties jump to as much as $10,000 a day, the Fresno Bee reports. The new law also empowers the State Water Resources Control Board to order emergency curtailments on streams that are at risk of running out of water.
But until a prolonged rainy season ultimately brings an end to the drought, thieves will no doubt continue being tempted to take water, leaving their victims high and dry.
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/water-rustling-rise-drought-stricken-california/