January 13, 2015 - VALLEJO, Calif.—Marijuana growing on the national forests continues to cause serious environmental damage. The 2015 Wild & Scenic Film Festival addresses this critical issue with a series of films and a panel discussion. The festival, which runs Jan. 15-18, is centered in Nevada City, home of the Tahoe National Forest.

A U.S. Forest Service production called Marijuana Grows and Restoration is among the programs being screened. The five-minute video describes the harm caused to watersheds, plants, wildlife and people. It is part of a series of video podcasts about the Forest Service's role in restoring California's ecosystems.

In Fiscal Year 2014, California's national forests totaled 142 grow sites for 624,634 plants.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival bills itself as the largest film festival of its kind in the United States. U.S. Forest Service employees from the Tahoe National Forest will serve as moderators for several screening sessions. This year's video is the third Forest Service production to be accepted as an official entry.

The screenings and the panel discussion take place Jan. 17. The panel discussion/workshop is free and open to the public. It will run from 3-4 p.m. at the City Hall, located at 317 Broad Street, Nevada City. For more information visit:http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/workshops/

Passes to the film screenings may be purchased online at http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/tickets/