SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The compliance checks of several marijuana grow sites in the Jerusalem Valley area has resulted in the eradication of nearly 1,500 marijuana plants.

Lt. Steve Brooks said the compliance checks took place this past Monday after the grows were discovered during a Saturday patrol.

On Saturday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office conducted patrol operations in the off highway vehicle area of Knoxville, locating five marijuana growing operations which appeared to be out of compliance, Brooks said.

Brooks said the deputies were able to contact subjects in three of the grow sites, who were warned of the county marijuana cultivation ordinance's rules and advised as to what steps were needed in order to become compliant.

On Monday the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, along with personnel from Lake County Code Enforcement, responded to the Jerusalem Valley area to check the five marijuana growing operations which were located on Saturday and determined to be out of compliance, Brooks said.

They were also going to check the compliance of seven additional marijuana growing operations in the same area, according to Brooks

The task force determined that all 12 of the marijuana growing operations were out of compliance. Most of the parcels were vacant and did not have any structures or the growers brought in trailers and tents to live in, Brooks said. The county ordinance prohibits grows on vacant parcels.

He said Lake County Code Enforcement red tagged all of the unpermitted residences and structures.

Detectives eradicated a total of 1,459 marijuana plants from the 12 locations, Brooks said.

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