The swollen Napa River has swept into Bob Johnstone's printing business four times in 11 years. Now the wall, braced with sandbags, goes up with every flood warning, most recently after the El Nino storms of early February. But it's a lot better.
Devastating floods are as characteristic of the Napa Valley as fine wine.
But that's about to change. Napa County voters approved a plan last month now hailed as a national model in the battle to reduce flood damage. Napa's plan rejects traditional methods of containing flood water behind dams or forcing it through artificial channels. Instead, the Napa River will be restored to its natural state. As it rises during floods, it will spread out onto its flood plain.