LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Last week the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force eradicated 52,813 marijuana plants from public land near Indian Valley Reservoir.

The investigation that led to the grow's discovery began in the spring, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

In April, narcotics detectives conducted several overflight missions focusing on locating illicit marijuana growing operations occurring in the Mendocino National Forest and Bureau of Land Management properties, Brooks said.

During one of the overflight missions, detectives located what appeared to be evidence of a large marijuana grow in an area commonly known as Complexion Spring, which Brooks said is located just north of Indian Valley Reservoir.

On Wednesday, July 3, narcotics detectives entered the grow site and located four separate plots connected by an elaborate trail system, Brooks said.

He said detectives were unable to locate any suspects or additional evidence which would assist in revealing their identities. The narcotics detectives subsequently eradicated the marijuana plants.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.