Oregon lawmakers are advancing a plan to purchase Abiqua Falls, a 92‑foot basalt cascade east of Salem that has long drawn hikers from across the region — including many from Southwest Washington. According to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting, the proposal is bundled into a broad budget measure, Senate Bill 5701, which includes $2.1 million for acquiring the waterfall and surrounding lands.

The bill directs $600,000 toward purchasing the 40‑acre tract where the falls sit. That property is owned by the Abbey Foundation of Oregon, the nonprofit fundraising arm of Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary, which listed the site earlier this year on Redfin. The Salem Statesman Journal first reported the listing, and its publicly posted status changed to “pending” after Oregon lawmakers announced the potential agreement.

An additional $1.4 million in the bill is earmarked for roughly 160 acres of nearby forest and rapids currently held by Weyerhaeuser, the timber company that manages about 2.5 million acres across Oregon and Washington.

House Majority Leader Ben Bowman told OPB that the combined purchase price is unusually low given the popularity and ecological value of the site. Bowman described the acquisition as an investment intended to secure long‑term public access.

Support for the proposal crosses party lines. In a public statement cited by OPB, state Rep. Rick Lewis of Silverton said the transaction would preserve the area “for the enjoyment of generations to come.” Sen. Fred Girod, also of Silverton, framed the effort as consistent with Oregon’s legacy of land conservation, invoking former Gov. Tom McCall’s approach to protecting scenic landscapes.

The purchase comes amid ongoing debate in Oregon about public land stewardship. OPB notes that conservation groups have expressed concern over federal attempts in recent years to expand industrial access or move public lands into private hands. In response, Oregon lawmakers are advancing a separate bill that would prohibit state agencies from assisting federal efforts to transfer federally owned lands to private buyers.

Still, the state faces unresolved questions about long‑term management. Oregon’s parks and forestry agencies have confronted budget reductions, fee increases, and delayed capital projects over the past year. OPB reported that lawmakers have not yet determined which agency would manage Abiqua Falls if the purchase succeeds, nor how public access would be structured.

Details of the waterfall acquisition are embedded within a much larger bonding bill that includes funding for statewide projects, such as capital improvements to Portland’s Moda Center. If the broader package fails, the Abiqua Falls purchase would end with it. Lawmakers quoted by OPB expressed confidence that the bill will advance.

For Southwest Washington residents, Abiqua Falls has long been a reachable day‑trip destination — one that exists in an ambiguous space between public use and private ownership. If the Oregon Legislature approves the purchase, the site could shift into a fully public role for the first time in its hundred‑year history. That change would likely influence future recreation patterns along the I‑5 corridor, particularly as Washington continues its own conversations about forest access, private timberland fees, and cross‑border tourism.

Why this matters for Cowlitz County

While the land transaction is an Oregon process, the outcome touches local dynamics. Abiqua Falls is a frequent stop for residents of Longview, Kelso, and the broader Cowlitz region, especially during summer months when trail congestion and access rules become central concerns. A shift to state ownership could mean clearer rules, improved trail safety, and more predictable access — or, depending on Oregon’s budget realities, new fees and increased regulation.

Local tourism patterns have increasingly crossed state lines as Washington’s public land agencies tighten budgets and private timber companies continue to adjust access policies. A publicly held Abiqua Falls could become a larger regional draw, reshaping where local families and outdoor groups travel for recreation.

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