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City pursuing purchase of lower Jetty Creek watershed; 200 acres to be used for recreation if acquisition succeeds
Summary
Staff told the budget committee the city is working to acquire roughly 800 acres of the lower Jetty Creek Watershed, with 200 adjacent acres designated for light recreation. The purchase and follow-up restoration work depend on grant funding and permits; staff aim to complete the acquisition by December 2026 if funding and approvals align.
City staff told the Rockaway Beach Budget Committee on April 22 that updated estimates for acquiring the lower portion of the Jetty Creek Watershed are lower than previously expected and that the city hopes to close on a purchase that would include roughly 800 acres, of which about 200 acres adjacent to Highway 101 are planned for light, responsible recreation.
City Manager Luke Shepherd described the acquisition as a high priority in the transportation and infrastructure objective for the proposed budget and said staff hope to complete the transaction by December 2026 if grant-dependent funding and approvals come through. Shepherd and staff said the acquisition would enable restoration projects (including an estimated $150,000 for restorative thinning, grant dependent) and water-quality monitoring (budgeted about $70,000) tied to the city's source-water protection planning.
Staff cautioned the committee that several aspects of the project are contingent on grants and state approvals, and that the city would seek additional outside funding to cover restoration and monitoring costs. The committee asked about timing, grant dependencies and the state permitting path; staff said they are pursuing grants and would update the committee as the acquisition advances.
