A boulder wall was recently built to protect Oprah Winfrey‘s estate from flooding and erosion—but neighbors are now worried that they’ll be the ones in danger.
The giant wall was erected following devastating January floods in Oprah’s posh Montecito, California neighborhood of Ennisbrook, ideally to keep the waters from the nearby San Ysidro Creek from swamping the Winfrey property. But, according to California news outlet SFGATE, neighbors are now pushing back, concerned that any flood waters would now be diverted onto their properties and questioning if the build was even properly permitted. Though it’s uncertain which of the media mogul’s neighbors voiced their concerns, some of Oprah’s famous fellow Ennisbrook residents include Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Ellen DeGeneres—all who could be affected by any flooding diverted from her property by the boulder wall.
Oprah’s Montecito neighbors worry new wall will send floods their way
New York Post (RSS)No one knows if Oprah Winfrey authorized it or not, but a boulder wall was installed along San Ysidro Creek to protect her estate. pic.twitter.com/lLTe3JVcWk
— Cap’n Crunch Zac MD (@Zac_Unchained) April 22, 2023
Controversy Brews Over Giant Wall At Oprah’s Montecito, CA Estate
The wall was erected by Jimenez Nursery, a California business that had applied with the Army Corps of Engineers for a “like-for-like rebuild request” to “place boulders along creek side that have eroded and washed away.” The request used Oprah’s Santa Rosa Lane address in the filing, however, it is still unclear whether the “Queen of All Media” herself actually authorized the construction or requested it at all.
A complaint was filed with the Santa Barbara County Planning & Development Department by an unnamed neighbor about the wall, which prompted the department to begin an official investigation of the construction and whether or not it was actually permitted. The Army Corps of Engineers along with the California state Department of Fish & Wildlife have been processing many requests for construction and rebuilding permits following the deadly January floods in the region that took the lives of 14 locals.
Along with Oprah’s involvement, it is still unclear if a permit was actually obtained from any official party for the “rebuild” of the boulder wall, or who may have granted permission for the modifications to be made.
The main concern from Oprah’s neighbors is that this diversion of flood waters could simply redirect the problem from Winfrey’s property to their own, likely with higher velocity and possibly with even more devastating effects.
Montecito: High-Class Residents, High Risk of Flooding And Fire
Though Montecito, and especially the Ennisbrook neighborhood, is known for it's well-moneyed residents, it is also known for being right in the line of flooding and wildfires and is actually one of the hardest places to insure property within the United States.
The region suffered historic devastation back in 2018 when horrific mudslides destroyed millions of dollars in property and killed 23 Montecito residents. Oprah posted a video showing the destruction caused by the floods, saying "There used to be a fence right here. That’s my neighbor’s house, devastated."
Oprah seems to be a fan of Santa Barbara County—her 2021 interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was filmed outdoors in the area at an unspecified home. The media mogul owns several properties in Montecito along with her massive estate, and recently sold the mansion next door for a cool $14.23 million.
