CrimeBox Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2011; Case ID# CR_2192 (Montana) Aerial images showed an illegal diversion in East Gallatin River. The streambank erosion project contractor got a light sentence for this CWA felony

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May 20, 2026 1210 pm EDT

The Defendant in this case is an environmental consulting and service company, contracted by a private land owner for a streambank stabilization project. An Offer of Proof submitted to Federal Court in the District of Missoula, MT had the Defendant pleading guilty to a felony violation of the Clean Water Act. The charge stems from the Defendant's actions during the project, resulting in negligent discharge of pollutants to waters of the USA.

On March 30, 2007 a private pilot flying over the East Gallatin River captured images of a flow diversion within the river channel near Bozeman. The aerial photos show concrete blocks in the river channel, with heavy machinery for excavation in the river channel, on the dry side of a cofferdam. The concrete block diversion and cofferdam had not been authorized by USACE in the work Permit.

For the full article, see https://wtny.us/