MENDOCINO (AP) — The sheriff of Mendocino County is vowing to crack down on illegal pot growers who he says steal millions of gallons of water during the growing season.

Sheriff Tom Allman told county supervisors Tuesday that while area residents may tolerate marijuana growers, but they don't tolerate water thieves who illegally tap into streams and their neighbors' water tanks.

Allman said the county has been successful in prosecuting water theft cases.

The sheriff estimated one million pot plants are illegally grown each year in the county. He said each one requires about five gallons of water per day.