Environmental groups sue over marina, housing project near Trestle Creek

SANDPOINT, Idaho — The Center for Biological Diversity and the Idaho Conservation League have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, challenging federal approvals for a commercial marina and luxury housing development near the mouth of Trestle Creek on Lake Pend Oreille. 

The groups allege the project threatens federally protected bull trout and is moving forward in apparent violation of permit conditions.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, claims the agencies failed to fully analyze how the marina and housing could harm bull trout and their critical habitat, violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Trestle Creek is considered one of the most important bull trout spawning streams in the Pacific Northwest.

“With construction crews already plowing ahead, federal agencies need to protect threatened bull trout from this misguided zombie project once and for all,” said Sarah Brown, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. She warned that rerouting the creek could worsen runoff into Lake Pend Oreille and damage a critical spawning area.

According to the lawsuit, the Corps’ permit only allowed marina construction after rerouting the creek’s North Branch and required work to occur during specific seasons and in dry conditions to protect bull trout. Despite those requirements, the groups say construction is underway while the creek is flowing and during a historic flooding event in Bonner County.

“Despite the requirement that this work be completed in dry conditions, extensive areas of the lakebed are being dredged,” said Jennifer Ekstrom, North Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League, adding that the Corps failed to stop what she called permit violations.

The Idaho Club’s proposal includes a 98-slip commercial marina, docks, private homes, roads and parking. Environmental groups say the location is especially sensitive, noting that as many as half of the bull trout spawning nests in the Pend Oreille Basin are found in Trestle Creek.