Judge halts Elbow Lake gravel pit, court case in progress

A Missoula District Court Judge stopped new work on a gravel pit three miles south of Salmon Lake after area residents filed multiple lawsuits over the validity of the project.

Protect the Clearwater, a nonprofit group of residents near the Clearwater River, successfully petitioned Missoula District Judge John Larson on July 17 for a temporary injunction, or hold, on LHC Construction’s permit to crush gravel and create asphalt for road projects.

The temporary injunction means work on the project must stop immediately and cannot restart without the judge clearing the hold.

“A delay in restraini...