A Small Town Disturbance

A Small Town Disturbance

The entrance to San Isabel National Forest off of Colorado Highway 165

     

     The small towns of Colorado City and Rye, located approximately 20 miles south of Pueblo, were shocked to see the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department vehicles speeding along Colorado Highway 165 with the sirens blaring on 30 June. Later that evening, the reasons were explained and yet again the residents were hanging their heads as the fifth illegal marijuana grow, since 2012, was found hiding within, or near, the National Forest.

The entrance to Huckleberry Hills Ranch, which borders San Isabel National Forest

A view of the National Forest lands behind the Huckleberry Hills Ranch

      An unsuspecting hiker was traversing through San Isabel National Forest, when the grow was stumbled upon. In total, there was approximately 7,400 plants found, with a value near 7 million dollars, according to Pueblo County Sheriffs investigators.

     While two suspects were noticed in the area, no arrests were made. Evidence was found and showed that the individuals had been living within the area for some time. Temporary shelters, blankets, cook stoves were just some of the items found around the illegal grow.

Millset Trail head access point, approximately 1.5 miles from the illegal grow was found near Huckleberry Hills Ranch. Millset Trail was also the site of an illegal grow found in October of 2015.

Evidence of foot traffic found off trail

     Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor stated that, "These grows are not indigenous to Colorado. The water and fertilizers required for these grow operations represent a clear environmental hazard for our beautiful Colorado mountains." Sheriff Taylor, a resident of the Colorado City and Rye area, went on to say that, "We certainly appreciate and encourage anyone who is out enjoying our mountains and sees something that they think is suspicious, to report it." Signs to watch for would be branches cleared from the ground to ten feet up the trees, as well as the berries and no underbrush along the forest floor.

      The four previous illegal grows were believed to have connections to a Mexican cartel. It is still under investigation if this grow is connected as well.