MARYSVILLE, Calif. October 3, 2019 – The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department marijuana eradication team will be better protected with the help of Yuba Water Agency’s Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program.
A $5,000 grant, approved by Yuba Water Agency, will fund specialized uniforms and equipment for the team to use during investigations into potentially illegal marijuana cultivation sites, and corresponding water diversions and watershed-related environmental violations.
The new uniforms will consist of a blend of chemical, fire and tear-resistant material to better protect team members when processing unlawful gardens and associated equipment used for illegal grow operations.
“Illegal grows negatively impact the quantity and quality of our water because of the harmful chemicals that are used,” said Yuba Water Agency Chairman Brent Hastey. “Funding these new uniforms will help protect both our sheriff’s deputies and our water.”
Yuba Water Agency is able to fund this equipment because of the potential negative impacts that illegal marijuana grows can have on the watershed.
The Bill Shaw Rescue Equipment and Training Grant Program, which was created in 2018, is designed for first-responder agencies in Yuba County and will cover the one-time costs of up to $10,000 per applicant annually, associated with the purchase of rescue equipment and specialized personnel training. Since its inception, the program has supported 14 agencies with $163,500 in grants.