EPA v. JUSTIN METTLER ID - JUDICIAL (CWA 404)

Case summary

On September 14, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a complaint on behalf of EPA Region 10 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Justin and Tammy Mettler alleging Clean Water Act Section 404 violations at their riverfront property in North Fork, Lemhi County, Idaho. The Mettler's bank armoring activities included the discharge of fill material, such as rip rap rock, below the ordinary high water mark along 550-linear feet of the North Fork of the Salmon River, without a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The unauthorized work impacted designated Critical Habitat for listed Chinook Salmon (spring/summer), steelhead trout, and bull trout, and eliminated plantings and other salmon habit improvement work that the state of Idaho Department of Fish and Game had installed. The Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game requested a formal enforcement action after informal settlement negotiations failed. The Complaint seeks injunctive relief and penalty to resolve the matter. On August 6, 2026, the EPA Region 10 referred to the DOJ a Clean Water Act Section 404 violation regarding unauthorized bank armoring activities conducted by Justin Mettler on his riverfront property resulting in discharges of fill material, including gravel and rip rap rock, below the ordinary high water mark of the North Fork of the Salmon River in North Fork, Lemhi County, Idaho. The unauthorized work was conducted without a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which impacted 550-linear feet of Endangered Species Act (ESA) designated Critical Habitat for listed Chinook Salmon (spring/summer), steelhead trout, and bull trout. The riparian vegetation community and overhanging vegetation along the riverbank was mechanically cleared and eliminated important habitat for ESA listed fish species. The Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has requested that EPA and DOJ continue to seek injunctive relief and penalty to resolve this matter. The Region 10 referral to DOJ requests that a Complaint be filed in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Idaho to maintain the federal government's claims for injunctive relief and penalty, as the statute of limitations for this case approaches.

Defendants (1)

• JUSTIN METTLERNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• JUSTIN METTLER RESIDENCE NF SALMON RIVER

  US HWY 93, NORTH FORK, ID, 83467

  Registry ID: 110071752951

Statutes cited

• CWA 404 — Permits for Dredge and Fill Material

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2026-07-28Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2026-08-06Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2026-09-14Complaint Filed With Court