Eastwood couple’s donated ranch becomes centerpiece of Carmel River floodplain restoration

In 1995 Clint Eastwood purchased a 134-acre former artichoke farm near the Carmel River, later announcing with his then-spouse Margaret that the land would be given to the Big Sur Land Trust. Over the years the Eastwoods transferred portions of the property, culminating in a 79-acre donation in 2016 that formed the core of the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project. The trust now manages a 128-acre site that will serve as natural flood storage, reducing risk for homes and businesses downstream while restoring wetland and riparian habitats.

Monterey County lists the remaining project cost at roughly $57.5 million, with about $27.1 million pending from state and federal sources and roughly $25 million already secured through grants. The initiative is in its final design and pre-construction stage, aiming to reshape the former agricultural fields into open space, wildlife habitat, and flood protection. This effort highlights how preserving land can provide long-term community safety and ecological benefits.