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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2021)
Opinion A4 Thursday, October 21, 2021 OUR VIEW Oregon created illegal pot crisis S even years ago, Oregonians were told that by legalizing marijuana and hemp they could solve an array of problems. Pot smokers could come out of the shadows and hemp could take its place as a legitimate crop. Illegal pot growers would be put out of business — or at least forced to register under the state’s auspices. State offi cials estimated millions of dollars would come tumbling into the state’s coff ers that would go to schools and cover the costs of regu- lating the crop. By 2020, legal marijuana sales in Oregon topped $1.1 billion a year, and state tax rev- enue exceeded $150 million. According to the state Department of Revenue, 40% was ear- marked for the state school fund, 20% for mental health, alcoholism and drug services, 15% for the Oregon State Police and 5% for the Oregon Health Authority for drug treatment. The problem: Enforcement of the pot and hemp law has taken a back seat. Illegal marijuana grows are overtaking some parts of the state. It’s gotten so bad in Jackson County that the commissioners there declared a state of emergency and sent a plea for help to Gov. Kate Brown and legislative leaders. Neighboring Josephine County faces the same problems. The sheriff there estimated hundreds of illegal pot grows are spread throughout the south- western Oregon county. Some legal hemp farms serve as camoufl age for illegal marijuana grows. Nearly 50% of the regis- tered hemp farms in Oregon illegally grow mari- juana, according to the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commis- sion. About 25% of registered hemp farms won’t let state inspectors in. All of which constitutes an emergency of the highest order. Once pot growers — and hemp growers who cultivate pot illegally on the side — decide to fl out the law, all bets are off . They are telling the state of Oregon they don’t care what the law says and are thumbing their noses at the authorities. And the state is letting them get away with it. Illegal growers steal massive amounts of water and use illegal chemicals, threatening the livelihoods of legal farmers. To her credit, the governor is making more can- nabis law enforcement grants available and told the state police to increase its eff orts. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is expanding its hemp program from four to 12 staff ers. Every little bit helps, but that’s not nearly enough. Jackson County commissioners alone say they need six more code enforcement offi cers; the sher- iff ’s offi ce needs 34 more staff ers, including 18 detectives; and the state Water Resources Depart- ment there needs three more staff ers just to handle water-theft complaints. And that’s just one county. Other counties report similar illegal pot problems. Oregonians, including growers who follow the law, are being hurt because of the state’s lax regu- lation of pot and hemp. Oregon’s leaders have failed the public. They have allowed illegal pot growers to operate at will. It’s time for the governor and her administra- tion to fi x this crisis, which they helped create. When Oregonians approved the legalization of marijuana and hemp, they were told the state would do a good job of regulating the crops and get rid of illegal growers. The state at all levels has failed to live up to its part of the bargain. It’s time for the authorities to saddle up and get rid of the problem they have allowed to overrun our state. The hidden danger of wildfi re burn scars MARY WISTER EYE TO THE SKY he Western U.S. has faced another busy wildfi re season, and nearly all large wildfi res lasted for weeks — or even months — before they were fully contained. Many wildfi res continue to burn as I write this article. What a relief to see the words “100% contained,” knowing that the fi re will no longer threaten addi- tional landscape or property. However, is the threat of any additional damage completely over? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Wildfi res, no matter how big or small, will leave a burn scar on the landscape. Fires in steep terrain are particularly susceptible to signifi - cant erosion. The depth of the burn scar will depend on how long the fi re resided and how hot the fi re burned. Ash and burnt soil do not absorb water. All it takes is water to sud- denly wreak havoc as it combines with ash and loose soil to fl ow down the side of a mountain or steep hill and threaten any object along its path. If precipitation falls at a faster rate than the soil can absorb, the more signifi cant the debris fl ow will be. On July 31, 2016, the Rail Fire ignited about 10 miles south- west of Unity. The fi re burned more than 41,000 acres in both the T LETTERS • The Observer welcomes letters to the editor. We edit letters for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We will not publish consumer complaints against businesses, personal attacks against private individuals or comments that can incite violence. We also discourage thank-you letters. Wallowa-Whitman and Malheur National Forests. A year later, in September 2017, a thunderstorm produced fl ash fl ooding along the South Fork of the Burnt River. For- tunately, there were no injuries. However, four campgrounds were impacted by a massive amount of mud, and the campers who evacu- ated witnessed a potentially deadly situation. One of the biggest challenges with forecasting debris fl ows is the time to research the damage from a wildfi re before the rain occurs. Heavy rain can occur while the fi re is burning, and there is little to no evidence of how deep the soil has burned. Some post fi res are evaluated by a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team that can greatly assist in understanding the severity of a wildfi re, and the team often pre- scribes mitigation goals to reduce the threat from burned scars and fragile slopes, but there may not be enough time to accomplish these preventative measures prior to the next precipitation event. National Weather Service fore- casters have the ability to overlay fi re perimeters with radar and satel- lite imagery and focus on showers that approach wildfi res and burn scars. Flood watches and warnings may be issued as needed. Despite the dedication of the NWS forecasters to protect those from fl ooding and fl ash fl ooding, situational awareness is highly important for those who reside near burn scars. If you are near steep terrain recently burned by a wildfi re, look out for rocks that can easily slide down the slope and cause injuries or death. Is the terrain barren, or covered with trees? Tree roots can limit the amount of runoff , as long as the trees are not fully scorched with weak roots. Visually observe the depth of the ash on the ground. (Never stick your hand or foot into the ash. Ash and stumps can retain heat long after a fi re has burned.) By observing the terrain and the weather, you will be better prepared for debris fl ows. One question often asked is “When do we no longer have to worry about wildfi re burn scars?” That depends on the severity of the burned area. Debris fl ows can occur two to three years after a wildfi re — possibly longer. If a burned area shows no signs of vegetation, then consider it a con- tinued threat. The website www.weather.gov/ safety/fl ood-hazards provides excellent safety tips for fl oods and fl ash fl oods. ——— Mary Wister is a meteorologist and fi re weather program manager at the National Weather Service in Pendleton. Wister serves as an incident meteorologist when large wildfi res or other natural hazards necessitate an Incident Management Team’s quick response to protect life and property. • Letters should be no longer than 350 words and must be signed and carry the author’s name, address and phone number (for verifi cation only). We will not publish anonymous letters. • Letter writers are limited to one letter every two weeks. • Longer community comment columns, such as Other Views, must be no more than 700 words. Writers must provide a recent headshot and a one-sentence biography. SEND LETTERS TO: letters@lagrandeobserver.com or via mail to Editor, 911 Jeff erson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION STAFF SUBSCRIBEAND SAVE NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50 You can save up to 55% off the single-copy price with home delivery. Call 800-781-3214 to subscribe. 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