Issues We Face

An Overview

In January 2020, Yamhill County Government approved a marijuana/hemp processing/extraction refinery on Chehalem Mountain at 18505 NE Jaquith Road (Docket SDR-28-19), despite the objection of dozens of local residents. On this site, they also approved growing large amounts of hemp/marijuana that requires extensive irrigation.  This area has limited groundwater that is shared by surrounding homeowners, farms, and businesses in the region as covered by the map. According to two independent hydrologist/geologist firms, these irrigation practices could deplete the available water in the “Chehalem Mountain Aquifer” area in 1-5 years!

Oregon Water Resources Department has classified Chehalem Mountain and the large regional area within the Aquifer as a GROUNDWATER LIMITED AREA due to the finite supply of groundwater available.

Our concerns are not about the legality of marijuana or hemp or the by-products of these plants. We are concerned about the placement of a business which will be using flammable materials on top of a mountain with limited fire suppression, winding gravel roads, steep terrain and frequent high winds, where we and our families live. We are concerned about irrigating a crop in an area with limited groundwater that the residents and businesses within the Aquifer also get their water from. We believe commercial operations like this should be located in an industrial area, with regular inspections for safety, close to infrastructure with fire suppression equipment and access to first responders, with easy access to municipal water supplies.