Native American-owned engineering firm helps steward the land

Bob Lehto stands outside of TriMedia Environmental & Engineering.

Partnership helps ensure environmental responsibility

Jan. 26, 2026

As Enbridge moves forward with the Wisconsin Line 5 Segment Relocation Project, one priority has remained clear: partner with trusted expertise to ensure the work is grounded in environmental responsibility and community stewardship.

Among the firms helping chart the project’s path is TriMedia Environmental & Engineering—a Native American-owned small business with more than 30 years of environmental leadership.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Marquette, MI, TriMedia has built its reputation on delivering high-quality, cost-effective services across industries ranging from oil and gas and mining to healthcare and power generation. But for TriMedia president Bob Lehto, the company’s mission has always been rooted in something much deeper.

“Our mission is to protect the land and those living on it,” Lehto says. “That belief guides everything we do.”

A partnership built on shared values

TriMedia’s relationship with Enbridge began years ago and has strengthened steadily with each project. For the Line 5 segment relocation in Wisconsin, Enbridge brought TriMedia on board to support environmental work that would shape the project’s design and execution.

“We were part of the team that went out and did all of the surface water sampling across the proposed route around the Bad River Reservation,” Lehto explains.

For Lehto, who is a band member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, this work carries personal significance.

“I take the responsibility of being a steward of the land and the Great Lakes very, very seriously,” he says. “Respect for the environment—and respect for the land—is a shared core value. It’s something we carry as individuals and something we recognize in a company like Enbridge, who also holds that as a core value.”

A legacy of environmental expertise

Over the past three decades, TriMedia has completed more than 4,000 environmental and engineering projects. With regional offices across Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana, Arizona, and Nebraska, the company is well-positioned to support projects throughout the region.

Still, the opportunity to contribute to a project so close to home brings a special sense of pride.

“It’s rewarding to work on something that directly impacts the communities around us,” Lehto says. “We wholeheartedly support the project. It's really, really exciting to be able to be part of it.”

By integrating environmental science, cultural awareness and a deep respect for the land, the partnership reinforces a shared commitment to safeguarding natural resources for generations to come.

And for TriMedia, it reinforces what the company has stood for since its founding—protecting the land, and the people who depend on it.