Arlington

Erosion Near School Concerns Arlington Homeowners

When the Scism family moved to their home near Martin High School in 2006, they say about 12 to 15 feet of grass separated their property line and Rush Creek, which runs on land owned by the Arlington Independent School District.

"You could drive a truck through here about five or six years ago," said Kellye Scism.

But now, at its narrowest point, a single foot separates their fence from the drop off to the creek. Last weekend, erosion caused a large mature tree to fall.

"The creek has been eroding year after year. It's taken at least 10 feet since 2008," Scism said. "It took it [the tree] out last weekend and Arlington School District had people coming out removing it."

However, despite years of complaints from the Scisms, AISD said it's not able to implement any solutions that would stop the erosion that could eventually swallow the family's backyard.

The district said it has investigated the issue, and according to emails dating back to 2011, the inspecting engineer reported that Gabion baskets, which are large rocks held in place by wire cages, could be placed along both banks of the creek to stop erosion, but the estimated cost would be approximately $773,000.

An email from a district administrator also states that AISD legal counsel confirmed that city ordinances do not require a property owner to stabilize erosion in a creek on their property.

In a statement to NBC 5, a district spokesperson said:

When the Scisms contacted us, we researched the matter with our attorneys, the city and a civil engineering firm. At that point, it was determined that it was natural erosion. The AISD hasn't altered the property in any way that would change the flow of water. State law prohibits the AISD from utilizing public funds in what is a private matter.

The Scisms feel the district is obligated to maintain its property so that it doesn't threaten other people's property.

"It's not whether or not they caused it, they didn't prevent it," Scism said. "If Martin High School was here and this was my property and my creek was getting ready to take part of Martin, I can assure you they would make me fix it."

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