Water Protectors Wade into a Stream Undergoing Illegal Line 5 Construction Activity

August 17, 2026 at 9:30am

MARENGO, WI – On Monday morning, August 17th, 2026, water protectors waded into an unnamed tributary to Brunsweiler River in an effort to stop unauthorized work on the Line 5 reroute project. They held a presence while Enbridge continued unauthorized work along the waterway.

Over the course of a few hours, protectors documented stump removal. With trout spawning beginning in October, water protectors are concerned about construction activities interfering with the ecological process of fishes. Four water protectors were issued citations while standing in the waterway.

Despite neither the landowner nor the court yielding rights to work along this stream, Enbridge continued with construction activities, including tree removal and the installation of erosion control systems in this last week. Judge John Anderson had issued a stay on construction at the site, hearing arguments on August 13th where Enbridge advocated for the stay to be lifted. Enbridge laid out “No Tresspassing” signs and installed eriosion control on Friday, without the riparian rights to do so.

While Enbridge is still in court arguing for the right to plow through these streams for their pipeline, they continue construction in this place without legal rights knowing that their profits will more than makes up for the fines they incur from defying court orders.