Crumbling riverbank threatens playground at Calistoga Elementary School

[TexasTowelie]

CALISTOGA — Rain and a strong river flow over the past several weeks continue to gnaw away sections of the Napa River’s bank behind Calistoga Elementary School, slicing back the bank to within feet of a playground shade structure, officials said.

Chain-link fencing blocks anyone from reaching large sections of the school’s property bordering the Napa River, where chunks of the dirt have dropped off into the river bed.

Chris Ochs, Calistoga Joint Unified School District facilities manager, told the Board of Trustees at its March 6 meeting that there is about a 22-foot drop from the school property down to the river. The posts of the shade structure are about 7 feet from the river’s edge now, with tree roots visible where students played before the damage started in January.

A nearby children’s play structure is also fenced off for safety reasons.

Read more: http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/crumbling-riverbank-threatens-playground-at-calistoga-elementary-school/article_665a12c2-1b96-5220-a814-0af9fd596bf9.html