Court Halts 159-foot Dock at Proposed Lakeside Marina
A Flathead County District Court judge has temporarily halted construction of a 159‑foot dock proposed for a new commercial marina on Flathead Lake near Lakeside.
In a March 12 ruling, Judge Dan Wilson granted an injunction against Flathead County, finding that the dock-length variance likely violated public participation and environmental review requirements in the Montana Lakeshore Protection Act. The lawsuit, brought by Citizens for a Better Flathead, argues that county officials approved the marina and dock variance without properly involving the planning board or ensuring meaningful opportunities for public input.
Following the ruling, the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Department posted a stop‑work order at the site, and violating that order could carry misdemeanor penalties, including a fine, jail time, or both.
While the ruling allows the larger marina project to move forward for now, the injunction pauses further work on the extended dock, citing potential harm to bull trout critical habitat and the public’s right to participate in decisions affecting Flathead Lake’s shorelines.
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