Massive Marijuana Grow Eradicated in Sequoia National Park, Spotlight on Black Market’s Ecological Toll

Federal rangers and Bureau of Land Management agents dismantled an illegal marijuana cultivation spanning 13 acres deep within Sequoia National Park—highlighting the enduring environmental threats of clandestine grows even in a post-legalization era.

Rangers removed 2,377 mature marijuana plants and approximately 2,000 pounds of trash and infrastructure. The operation utilized manual cleanup and helicopter sling-loads due to the area’s remote terrain.

The delayed rehabilitation—the site was first raided in 2024—was due to hazardous conditions, including a gallon of Methamidophos, a toxic insecticide banned since 2009, and the presence of a semi-automatic pistol.

Environmental destruction was extensive: vegetation was cleared; water was diverted from a creek into storage pits and irrigation lines; terraces were carved into hillsides; campsites, kitchen areas, and nearly two miles of illegal trails were constructed; and poaching signs were evident.

The NPS emphasized that each marijuana plant consumes 6–8 gallons of water daily—resources vital to local wildlife and downstream Central Valley communities—and pesticide runoff further jeopardizes ecosystems.

Over the past two decades, nearly 300,000 illicit cannabis plants—estimated at $850 million—have been eradicated in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, underscoring the scale of ongoing illegal agricultural operations.

Despite California’s legalization of cannabis in 2016, federal lands remain off-limits—and the persistent black market continues to degrade protected environments via widespread grows, as seen in impacted areas like Siskiyou County, where rampant cultivation has decimated wildlife