PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO THE SANTA BARBARA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS- ASK THEM TO BAN COMMERCIAL CANNABIS IN SANTA BARBARA'S BEAUTIFUL NOJOQUI FALLS CORRIDOR
WHY? There are many good reasons. Start with water- without it, nothing else matters.
REASONS TO BAN CANNABIS:
- Increased Water Use and Decreasing Rainfall- Click to Learn More
- Local Food Security- Click to Learn More
- The Affect of Odor on The Corridor- Click to Learn More
- Vehicle Traffic in The Corridor- Click to Click to Learn More
- Crime and Long-Term Business Viability- Click to Learn More
- Property Values and Ecosystem Conservation- Click to Learn More
Santa Barbara County's unique and strikingly beautiful Nojoqui Falls Corridor is under threat from four (4) or more large cannabis projects under review by the planning commission. We are not opposed to cannabis per-se, the medicinal and therapeutic value of cannabis is proven- just keep the recreational kind away from our kids. We are, however, utterly opposed to growing cannabis in the water-poor Nojoqui Falls Corridor, where only dryland farming practices are sustainable. There are much better places to grow plants like cannabis in Santa Barbara County. The first site, Nojoqui Farms- Cannabis Cultivation (Permit #:19LUP-00000-00530), has been approved but not yet licensed for 25.93 acres. The appeal date has not been set.
THE NOJOQUI CREEK WATERSHED IS FINITE
All of the water in the Nojoqui Falls Corridor is dependent on rainfall, which recharges both the surface water and groundwater of the Nojoqui Creek Watershed. Our watershed starts at the top of the Nojoqui grade and ends at the Santa Ynez River in Buellton- the length of the Nojoqui Falls Corridor.
The climate is changing, California is in a drought, and cannabis is not farmed using sustainable dryland farming practices. It is a crop that is often harvested as many as 5 times per year. The Nojoqui Creek Watershed is already impaired, and less rain means diminished water throughout the watershed. More use, combined with less rainfall, will reduce water availability in the whole watershed. When do we hit the tipping point of potentially unrecoverable depletion? When do the native ecosystems and endangered species habitats die? When do the wells up and down the Corridor go dry? Nobody knows, because the watershed has not been studied, nor even holistically considered. Keep in mind that cannabis cultivation in Santa Barbara County has a categorical exemption from typical environmental impact reviews. This is not a good idea for biodiverse, fragile ecosystems like those of the Nojoqui Falls Corridor.
Approving large acreage cannabis sites that tap into this little watershed one-by-one without consideration of the watershed as a whole is death by a thousand cuts. We do not have consistently sufficient rainfall or a large enough water basin to support cannabis and continue to support the existing wild oak ecosystems, farms, ranches and residents already growing grapes, berries, veggies and other foods in our diverse and fertile dryland corridor. [Click to learn even more about water in the Nojoqui Falls Corridor]
It is unreasonable to expect commercial cannabis operations to happily co-exist in the same vicinity with agroecology, agritourism or traditional small farm operations. Neither the watershed nor the prominent wind eddies blowing odors unpredictably around will support it.
Please help us ban cannabis in the Nojoqui Falls Corridor.
Thank you.
Ed Seaman
805-868-0329
Owner/Operator, Santa Barbara Blueberries
Executive Director, Wild Farmlands
Passionate Steward, Restoration Oak Ranch
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 30, 2022
July 1, 2022
I walk through the corridor every morning and the thought of losing this fragile landscape to industrial growing weighs on me more each day. Your comments show me that I am not the only one fighting for the peace and water security of this valley. We are preparing our full case for the Board of Supervisors because the future of this land is worth the fight.
Reached 100 supporters
June 7, 2022
June 4, 2022
We are approaching the one hundred signature mark and I need you to push this link to your neighbors right now. If we hit this goal before the supervisors meet we will show them that our community refuses to let our water and landscape be destroyed.
92 Comments
Do NOT ruin our beautiful areas. This area cannot sustain a big grow like these and the quality of life will be affected for so many in the area, and the smell will be overpowering. While I don't oppose growing or using cannabis, this is not the area for it.
The value of farms like the u-pick blueberry site to families like mine is of greater value than a cannabis farm. Plus the value to the local community for preserving the ecosystem is far greater. I oppose the development of cannabis farming in that region.
Please ban commercial cannabis in Santa Barbara's Nojoqui Falls Corridor. Our family is concerned about the risk to the watershed and the environmental impact of having such a business in an ecologically sensitive area. Please do not approve the development of these large cannabis projects!
I've been visiting the Nojoqui Falls Corridor for over 50 years. It would be a shame to see it degraded by cannabis operations. As a minimum, the total watershed capacity should be measured and evaluated before any additional agricultural operations are approved.
Time to respect and restore watersheds no matter the crop. Let’s stop abusing the little remaining resources before we end up in the same shape as Cuyama valley, and other mono crop disaster areas.
I believe growing these plants are lowing the standards of our beautiful historic land. I would like to see these lands protected and left in their natural state.
this will impact neighbors by reducing water supply.
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PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO THE SANTA BARBARA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS- ASK THEM TO BAN COMMERCIAL CANNABIS IN SANTA BARBARA'S BEAUTIFUL NOJOQUI FALLS CORRIDOR
WHY? There are many good reasons. Start with water- without it, nothing else matters.
REASONS TO BAN CANNABIS:
- Increased Water Use and Decreasing Rainfall- Click to Learn More
- Local Food Security- Click to Learn More
- The Affect of Odor on The Corridor- Click to Learn More
- Vehicle Traffic in The Corridor- Click to Click to Learn More
- Crime and Long-Term Business Viability- Click to Learn More
- Property Values and Ecosystem Conservation- Click to Learn More
Santa Barbara County's unique and strikingly beautiful Nojoqui Falls Corridor is under threat from four (4) or more large cannabis projects under review by the planning commission. We are not opposed to cannabis per-se, the medicinal and therapeutic value of cannabis is proven- just keep the recreational kind away from our kids. We are, however, utterly opposed to growing cannabis in the water-poor Nojoqui Falls Corridor, where only dryland farming practices are sustainable. There are much better places to grow plants like cannabis in Santa Barbara County. The first site, Nojoqui Farms- Cannabis Cultivation (Permit #:19LUP-00000-00530), has been approved but not yet licensed for 25.93 acres. The appeal date has not been set.
THE NOJOQUI CREEK WATERSHED IS FINITE
All of the water in the Nojoqui Falls Corridor is dependent on rainfall, which recharges both the surface water and groundwater of the Nojoqui Creek Watershed. Our watershed starts at the top of the Nojoqui grade and ends at the Santa Ynez River in Buellton- the length of the Nojoqui Falls Corridor.
The climate is changing, California is in a drought, and cannabis is not farmed using sustainable dryland farming practices. It is a crop that is often harvested as many as 5 times per year. The Nojoqui Creek Watershed is already impaired, and less rain means diminished water throughout the watershed. More use, combined with less rainfall, will reduce water availability in the whole watershed. When do we hit the tipping point of potentially unrecoverable depletion? When do the native ecosystems and endangered species habitats die? When do the wells up and down the Corridor go dry? Nobody knows, because the watershed has not been studied, nor even holistically considered. Keep in mind that cannabis cultivation in Santa Barbara County has a categorical exemption from typical environmental impact reviews. This is not a good idea for biodiverse, fragile ecosystems like those of the Nojoqui Falls Corridor.
Approving large acreage cannabis sites that tap into this little watershed one-by-one without consideration of the watershed as a whole is death by a thousand cuts. We do not have consistently sufficient rainfall or a large enough water basin to support cannabis and continue to support the existing wild oak ecosystems, farms, ranches and residents already growing grapes, berries, veggies and other foods in our diverse and fertile dryland corridor. [Click to learn even more about water in the Nojoqui Falls Corridor]
It is unreasonable to expect commercial cannabis operations to happily co-exist in the same vicinity with agroecology, agritourism or traditional small farm operations. Neither the watershed nor the prominent wind eddies blowing odors unpredictably around will support it.
Please help us ban cannabis in the Nojoqui Falls Corridor.
Thank you.
Ed Seaman
805-868-0329
Owner/Operator, Santa Barbara Blueberries
Executive Director, Wild Farmlands
Passionate Steward, Restoration Oak Ranch
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 30, 2022
July 1, 2022
I walk through the corridor every morning and the thought of losing this fragile landscape to industrial growing weighs on me more each day. Your comments show me that I am not the only one fighting for the peace and water security of this valley. We are preparing our full case for the Board of Supervisors because the future of this land is worth the fight.
Reached 100 supporters
June 7, 2022
June 4, 2022
We are approaching the one hundred signature mark and I need you to push this link to your neighbors right now. If we hit this goal before the supervisors meet we will show them that our community refuses to let our water and landscape be destroyed.
92 Comments
This is NOT the place to expand cannabis growing. It uses too much water and will harm the farms in the area that grow food. Good healthful food is much more important than cannabis. Please think of our health, the health of our planet and the farms that are already in that area. Please BAN CANNABIS growing in this area.
Do NOT ruin our beautiful areas. This area cannot sustain a big grow like these and the quality of life will be affected for so many in the area, and the smell will be overpowering. While I don't oppose growing or using cannabis, this is not the area for it.
The value of farms like the u-pick blueberry site to families like mine is of greater value than a cannabis farm. Plus the value to the local community for preserving the ecosystem is far greater. I oppose the development of cannabis farming in that region.
Please ban commercial cannabis in Santa Barbara's Nojoqui Falls Corridor. Our family is concerned about the risk to the watershed and the environmental impact of having such a business in an ecologically sensitive area. Please do not approve the development of these large cannabis projects!
I've been visiting the Nojoqui Falls Corridor for over 50 years. It would be a shame to see it degraded by cannabis operations. As a minimum, the total watershed capacity should be measured and evaluated before any additional agricultural operations are approved.
Time to respect and restore watersheds no matter the crop. Let’s stop abusing the little remaining resources before we end up in the same shape as Cuyama valley, and other mono crop disaster areas.
I believe growing these plants are lowing the standards of our beautiful historic land. I would like to see these lands protected and left in their natural state.
this will impact neighbors by reducing water supply.
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This is NOT the place to expand cannabis growing. It uses too much water and will harm the farms in the area that grow food. Good healthful food is much more important than cannabis. Please think of our health, the health of our planet and the farms that are already in that area. Please BAN CANNABIS growing in this area.