The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office announced on 4 August 2017 that its drug enforcement unit had served six search warrants on private parcels in Burr Valley and Larabee Valley during a three-day operation that week.[1][2] None of the parcels had county applications or permits for commercial cannabis cultivation.[1][2]

The operation eradicated 11,412 marijuana plants and seized 1,153 pounds of processed marijuana (about 523 kg), which was destroyed.[1][2] Three men were arrested and charged with felony marijuana cultivation, conspiracy and stream alteration: William Woods, 32, Brian Woods, 29, and Stephen Passio, 31; William Woods was also held on outstanding felony warrants.[1][2] Deputies seized one firearm, and wardens and scientists from California Fish and Wildlife, CAL FIRE officers, county code enforcement and hazmat staff and California Army National Guard troops assisted in the operation.[1][2] Parallel inspections found streambed-alteration, pollution, timber-conversion, building and hazardous-waste violations, and the criminal cases were forwarded to the district attorney.[1][2] The property owners were still under investigation.[1][2]