Pot Wars Continue — This Time on the Flanks of Devil Mountain

Lamorinda Patch has been acutely aware of local marijuana grow sites in its area - particularly so after a near two such sites on the Upper San Leandro Watershed.

Locals have been writing and calling about helicopter overflights in the area, as well as sporadic gunfire as EBRPD and EBMUD officials scout the area for more signs of illicit activity.

On Thursday, a Contra Costa County Sheriff's helicopter on just such an overflight reportedly found a sizable grow site on the eastern flanks of Mount Diablo, the sheriff's department STARR 1 helicopter hovering over the remote site and watching as half a dozen men — all dressed in camouflage — broke cover and ran.

State Park rangers were advised of the grow site and the men, who abandoned camping equipment in their haste to leave the area, but the outnumbered rangers opted to wait for reinforcements before making their way to the remote campsite/grow site.

Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee declined to comment on the story and referred us to State Parks police. Patch will have more on this story as it develops Friday.