State Parks officers find illegal marijuana operation in Santa Cruz mountains

CASTLE ROCK STATE PARK, Calif. (KION) State Park officers found an illegal marijuana grow operation in the Santa Cruz Mountains, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and more than 1,800 plants were destroyed.

Officers found and destroyed the plants last week in Castle Rock State Park near the headwaters of the San Lorenzo River.

Investigators say no suspects were at the scene and no arrests have been made.

The department said illegal operations such as this one can be harmful to the environment and wildlife, but it could also be harmful to humans. In this case, officers said they found resource damages that include water diversion, terrain manipulation, native plant damage and use of harmful chemicals.