A sprawling 134-acre property near California’s
The site is now the focal point of the Carmel River
From Agricultural Fields to Environmental Asset
The transition of the Odello property from a commercial farm to a protected landscape occurred in stages. While the Eastwoods first announced their intention to transfer the land to the Big Sur Land Trust in 1997, the project’s scope expanded significantly over the years. Records from the land trust indicate that a critical 79-acre donation in 2016 was instrumental in assembling the 128-acre site that now forms the core of the restoration effort.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Big Sur Land Trust and Monterey County. Beyond its primary function of flood mitigation, the restoration is designed to revive riparian and wetland habitats, fostering a more resilient ecosystem. The site, which spans areas including Palo Corona Regional Park and Carmel River State Beach, is intended to provide the river with a natural path to the sea during periods of high water volume.
Project Status and Funding
The restoration remains a substantial financial undertaking, with Monterey County officials estimating the remaining costs at approximately $57.5 million. The Big Sur Land Trust reports that the project has secured roughly $25 million in grant funding and is currently awaiting a pending award from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reach full construction funding.
As the project enters its final stages of design and pre-construction coordination, the focus remains on the long-term environmental benefits of the site. By choosing to preserve the land rather than developing it into a residential subdivision, the initiative highlights a shift toward using natural landscape management to address modern flood-control challenges. The former artichoke farm now stands as a central component in the effort to protect the surrounding community while restoring the health of the local river system.
