Oregon lawmakers approve $2.1 million to buy Abiqua Falls

A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers approved $2.1 million to buy Abiqua Falls and surrounding land after the property was placed for open auction; the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department must complete environmental and archaeological due diligence before the purchase can proceed.

Oregon lawmakers approved funding to acquire Abiqua Falls, a privately owned waterfall that was recently listed for sale. The falls have been open to the public for many years despite private ownership. The property was offered in an open auction by The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, which had received it from Mount Angel Abbey. The state still needs to complete reviews before the sale can close. Key facts: - Lawmakers approved $2.1 million to buy Abiqua Falls and surrounding land. - Abiqua Falls drops about 92 feet over columnar basalt and lies roughly 30 miles east of Salem and 50 miles south of Portland; access involves a rough unpaved road and a steep short hike. - The land was acquired by Mount Angel Abbey in 1908 and transferred to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon in 2002; the foundation put the property up for open auction in early February. - The Abbey Foundation accepted the state's offer made under the bill that passed. - The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department must complete due diligence, including environmental and archaeological reviews, before the purchase can move forward, and the property would not automatically become a state park. Summary: The legislative funding authorizes the state to pursue acquisition of Abiqua Falls with the aim of keeping the site publicly accessible. The Parks and Recreation Department must finish its due diligence before the sale is completed, and the property's long-term management is undetermined at this time.