Federal judge to hear arguments next week in Glacier National Park house case

Oral arguments in a case on whether the Flathead Conservation District has the authority to order a home removed from the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park are scheduled for Jan. 8 in federal court in Missoula.

In late 2022 and early 2023 John and Stacy Ambler of San Diego, California built a home on the banks of the idyllic creek on a 2,300 square-foot privately-owned lot. In order to do so, they also poured a concrete retaining wall into the streambank as well as placed rock footers into the bank for decks.

Concerned residents, seeing the home being built, filed complaints against the Amblers with the Flathead Conservation District. The district oversees and enforces the Montana Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act. It undertook an investigation and found that the house violated the state law because the Amblers never sought, nor received the necessary permits to build the home. The district, in turn, ordered the home removed.