Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve to Receive $800,000 for Major Improvements

Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an $800,000 grant for improvements to the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve.

The project aims to restore trails, protect sensitive habitat, and expand public access along a key stretch of the California coast.

The funding agreement was approved during the February 3 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

The City of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara County will partner on the multi-year improvement effort, with county funds supporting work within the preserve.

County leaders described the Carpinteria and Rincon Bluffs Preserve as a regionally significant coastal asset. The area includes an important segment of the California Coastal Trail and provides public shoreline access, recreational opportunities, and habitat protection.

Supervisor Laura Capps Lee referred to the Carpinteria Bluffs as a “sacred space” and said the project would help strengthen the county’s relationship with the City of Carpinteria.

The project will focus on restoration and improved access at the Carpinteria Bluffs and Rincon Bluffs Preserve, including repairs to degraded trails, safety improvements, and expanded ADA-accessible pathways.

Environmental improvements will also include the removal of invasive plant species and the restoration of native habitats that support sensitive wildlife.

Additional work will include parking area upgrades, improvements to public amenities, installation of interpretive signage, and development of a long-term stewardship plan.

The $800,000 grant is funded through cannabis tax revenues set aside by the board in 2021 for open space and trail projects. Officials said the funding was initially intended to help acquire land near existing preserves, but rising property values shifted the focus toward restoring and improving land already in public ownership.

County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato noted that it is uncommon for the county to fund large-scale projects within city limits, but said the commitment reflects a prior decision to support a coastal resource of regional importance.

The $800,000 grant will be distributed to the City of Carpinteria in four annual installments of $200,000 each.

To ensure accountability, the City of Carpinteria must submit a written request to the county before receiving each annual payment. After funds are distributed, the city is required to provide progress reports documenting expenditures and confirming they align with approved project goals.

Reporting will occur annually in alignment with the multi-year funding schedule. The city will also coordinate project implementation with the Carpinteria Open Space Management Advisory Board and the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.

The Carpinteria Bluffs project is part of a broader county strategy to invest cannabis tax revenues in trail and open space improvements. Similar funding has supported projects including the Santa Ynez Valley Trail in North County, the Isla Vista Bluffs in South County, and the Goleta Hills “Forever” project.