Monday June 30, 2025
KSBW —
A significant river restoration project is underway in Carmel Valley, transforming the former Rancho Canada Golf Course into a vibrant habitat with healthy waterways to support rare steelhead trout and other local wildlife.
The Monterey Regional Parks District, along with other agencies, has begun the restoration project at the Palo Corona Regional Park.
This involves reconnecting the Carmel River to its historic floodplain while creating new recreational opportunities for the community. The project is divided into three phases, with the first phase currently occurring in the West section during the dry months.
The second phase will take place in the East section next year, and the final touches are expected to be completed by 2027.
The initiative aims to restore the natural connection between the Carmel River and its historic floodplain, which has restricted habitat and caused a population decline in the local steelhead trout population.
Jacqueline Breton, a Resource Conservation Specialist, said, “This project will be restoring the critical habitat for this endangered species while simultaneously reducing flood risk for the surrounding community.”
A local volunteer, Pat Herro, dedicates her time to educating others on the park’s restoration plans, emphasizing the transformation from a golf course to a natural habitat.
Herro said, “It’s not a golf course, it’s more like what nature intended in the first place. That’s what this restoration is about.”
Monterey Regional Parks urges the public to continue using the trails while they are under construction.