Many Oregonians know Abiqua Falls as a remote natural landmark east of Salem, but its private ownership and a public listing on the home-shopping site Redfin turned the site into a last-minute political issue. By the end of Oregon’s legislative session this month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers approved $2.1 million to buy the falls and surrounding land, according to the Associated Press.
The falls are about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Salem and roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Portland, reached by a rough, unpaved road and a steep hike. The AP reported that the terrain is so steep that previous visitors have left ropes in some spots for assistance, and that Abiqua Falls has been privately owned for more than a century even though it has been open to the public.
The listing for the 92-foot (28-meter) drop raised concerns among conservation supporters and hikers who worried the site could be closed, the AP reported. Travis Williams, president of the Willamette River Preservation Trust, said the public was “really confused and fearful that the site would be closed off,” adding that it was “not every day where you see a waterfall come up for sale on Redfin or Realtor.com with no price.”
The AP said the state acquisition responds to those concerns, with Republican state Sen. Fred Girod describing the intent behind the purchase in a statement. Girod said, “Oregon is pledging that Abiqua Falls will continue to be protected and accessible for generations to come.”
The waterfall is owned by a nonprofit that supports a community of Benedictine monks, according to Amanda Staggenborg, communications director for The Abbey Foundation of Oregon. Staggenborg said the property was acquired by Mount Angel Abbey in 1908 and later transferred to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon in 2002, and that the foundation put the property up for open auction in early February.
Staggenborg said the foundation accepted the state’s offer made under the bill passed by lawmakers. “We just realized that it was time,” she said, adding that “There were a lot of people that were hiking on the property, and while we welcome that, we wanted to ensure that the proper stewardship was overseeing it.”
The AP also reported that Oregon’s Parks and Recreation Department must complete due diligence, including environmental and archaeological reviews, before the purchase can move forward. Spokesperson Katie Gauthier said in an email that the department must complete that work, and she said the property would not necessarily become a state park; it could be managed by a local or tribal government or another state agency.
Gauthier also said the site’s remoteness and difficult access raised concerns about the impact on an already stretched state park system and the state’s budget shortfall. “Abiqua Falls is a beautiful but very remote and difficult-to-access site, and we are concerned about the impact managing a property like this could have on an already stretched state park system and our current budget shortfall,” she said.
While some commenters worried state acquisition could bring fees or crowds, the Willamette River Preservation Trust said it welcomed the move and quickly submitted a bid after the waterfall was listed. Williams said the trust supported the state’s plan to acquire it, and he described the falls in personal terms: “It has a sense of spirituality about it. It’s just gorgeous.”