As other modes of transportation became more dominant, Napa’s waterfront declined, but in the 21st century the city turned again to embrace the river. Much of the riverfront was redesigned and reconstructed, and the river corridor was widened to provide natural flood protection for the city. Across the river, industrial buildings were removed and contaminated sites cleaned, clearing the way for a widened river corridor. Restored floodplains and marsh plains were designed to keep water flowing between its banks and free the city from the constant threat of flooding. Trees planted in 2005 as part of the Napa River/Napa Creek Flood Protection Project returned a riparian forest to the river. Downstream, remnants of the 19th century Embarcadero de Napa remain visible, overlooked by houses in the Historic Napa Abajo District, many built by early ship captains. With Napa Valley’s emergence as a distinctive wine-growing region, Napa’s commerce came to rest largely on tourism and the wine industry, and the river again became a focal point of a community proud of its history and its river.