California environmentalists are fighting a situation similar to Coeur d'Alene's in which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has arbitrarily demanded that viewtiful trees be removed from a dam. Terry Harris/KEA provides this language from the suit: "The Corps adopted a new standard requiring removal of all vegetation from levees without environmental review, consideration of regional differences or scientific support. Not only is there little proof trees or well-managed vegetation threaten levees in California, the Corps’ own research shows trees stabilize and strengthen levees. The Corps must incorporate ongoing scientific research before proceeding." More here. And: Green Libertarian provides the back story to the California lawsuit here.

Question: Should the city of Coeur d'Alene demand that the Corps of Engineers conduct an environmental impact study and address issues involving the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, before kneeling to the corps demand?