Police are using the word “massive” to describe a marijuana grow operation in Tappen, which was searched  on Wednesday morning and has now resulted in a Ministry of Environment investigation into possible pollution of the nearby creek.

The grow operation was being run out of a large shop on a rural property in the 2500-block of Skimikin Road. RCMP found 860 plants, which staff Sgt. Kevin Keane described “as large as Christmas trees,” as well as a sizeable amount of dried marijuana bud, with an estimated value of $250,000.

“It was monstrous,” said Keane. “The shop was about the size of our RCMP detachment.”

Two men were arrested on site, but can not be named until formal criminal charges are laid.

While police were on scene, they found the property water intake and discharge was into a creek which spans the property. The Ministry of Environment was called in to assess possible environmental damage to the area as a result of the grow operation.

The property had diesel storage tanks, as well as fertilizer and other chemicals on site.

Other properties along Skimikin Road use water from that creek.

The environmental assessment was continuing Thursday.

In addition, the electrical system was found to be unsafe, and power has now been cut to the property.