Ki-a-Kuts Falls
Encyclopedia
Ki-a-Kuts Falls is a 40 feet (12 m) tall waterfall
on the Tualatin River
in Washington County
, Oregon
, United States. Discovered in 1993 in the more remote upper stretch of the river, the falls were named after the last chief of the local band of Native Americans, Chief Ki-a-Kuts of the Atfalati
. The water descends in a single fall down a narrow channel in the basalt
cliffs overhanging the river at that spot.
and the state level names board. Early options included Lost Falls and Riverkeepers Falls before the group decided to honor the former inhabitants of the Tualatin Valley
. The state naming board accepted the name on June 10, 1999.
On June 21, 1999, the cascade was dedicated as Ki-A-Kuts Falls in a ceremony featuring officials from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
. The falls were named after the final chief of the Atfalati band of the Native Americans that were part of the Kalapuya language group. The Atfalati inhabited the Tualatin Valley prior to the arrival of Euro-American settlers and were devastated by diseases from the Columbian Exchange
in the early 19th century. The survivors of the epidemics were forced off their ancestral lands and relocated to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation in what is now Polk County
along with several other bands of Native Americans.
’s confluence with Maple Creek and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north of Barney Reservoir at an elevation of 1299 feet (395.9 m). This is west of Henry Hagg Lake
and the city of Gaston
and about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of the county line with Tillamook County
within the Tillamook State Forest
.
Most place names with hyphens are rejected by the Board of Geographic Names, but the board made an exception due to the request to honor the Native American chief. Additionally, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde requested the last word be spelled with a K instead of a C as originally proposed.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
on the Tualatin River
Tualatin River
The Tualatin River is a tributary of the Willamette River located in Oregon in the United States. The river is approximately long, and it drains a fertile farming region called the Tualatin Valley southwest and west of Portland at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley...
in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States. Discovered in 1993 in the more remote upper stretch of the river, the falls were named after the last chief of the local band of Native Americans, Chief Ki-a-Kuts of the Atfalati
Atfalati
The Atfalati, also known as the Tualatin were a tribe or band of the Kalapuya Native Americans who originally inhabited the Tualatin Valley in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Oregon...
. The water descends in a single fall down a narrow channel in the basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
cliffs overhanging the river at that spot.
History
In July 1993, a group of eight hikers from the Tualatin Riverkeepers group were exploring the upper reaches of the Tualatin River, the only river in Washington County. During that hike the group stumbled upon the then uncharted falls while hiking in the river approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) directly north of Barney Reservoir. After returning home, the group worked to have the waterfall added to maps and to be officially named by the United States Board on Geographic NamesUnited States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
and the state level names board. Early options included Lost Falls and Riverkeepers Falls before the group decided to honor the former inhabitants of the Tualatin Valley
Tualatin Valley
The Tualatin Valley is a farming and suburban region southwest of Portland, Oregon in the United States. The valley is formed by the meandering Tualatin River, a tributary of the Willamette River at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley, east of the Northern Oregon Coast Range...
. The state naming board accepted the name on June 10, 1999.
On June 21, 1999, the cascade was dedicated as Ki-A-Kuts Falls in a ceremony featuring officials from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon consists of twenty-seven Native American tribes with long historical ties to present-day Western Oregon between the western boundary of the Oregon Coast and the eastern boundary of the Cascade Range, and the northern boundary of...
. The falls were named after the final chief of the Atfalati band of the Native Americans that were part of the Kalapuya language group. The Atfalati inhabited the Tualatin Valley prior to the arrival of Euro-American settlers and were devastated by diseases from the Columbian Exchange
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was a dramatically widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations , communicable disease, and ideas between the Eastern and Western hemispheres . It was one of the most significant events concerning ecology, agriculture, and culture in all of human history...
in the early 19th century. The survivors of the epidemics were forced off their ancestral lands and relocated to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation in what is now Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
along with several other bands of Native Americans.
Details
Ki-a-Kuts Falls stands 40 feet (12.2 m) tall and travels down a narrow rock chute in a single cascade over basalt cliffs. They end in a pool of water at the base, with views obscured by trees. Views are further obscured by a bend in the river at that point, which helped keep the falls concealed behind cliffs and thus unnoticed by modern explorers and off of maps. The falls are located 1700 feet (518.2 m) upriver (west) of the Tualatin RiverTualatin River
The Tualatin River is a tributary of the Willamette River located in Oregon in the United States. The river is approximately long, and it drains a fertile farming region called the Tualatin Valley southwest and west of Portland at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley...
’s confluence with Maple Creek and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north of Barney Reservoir at an elevation of 1299 feet (395.9 m). This is west of Henry Hagg Lake
Henry Hagg Lake
Henry Hagg Lake is an artificial lake in northwest Oregon, United States, which is an impoundment of Scoggins Creek which drains a small portion of the eastern side of Northern Oregon Coast Range. The lake and creek are part of the Tualatin River’s watershed in the Tualatin Valley...
and the city of Gaston
Gaston, Oregon
Gaston is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 600 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 630 residents.-Early history:...
and about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of the county line with Tillamook County
Tillamook County, Oregon
Tillamook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Tillamook, a Native American tribe who were living in the area in the early 19th century at the time of European American settlement. In 2010, the county's population was 25,250...
within the Tillamook State Forest
Tillamook State Forest
The Tillamook State Forest is a publicly owned forest in the U.S. state of Oregon. Managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, it is located west of Portland in the Northern Oregon Coast Range, and spans Washington, Tillamook, Yamhill, and Clatsop counties. The forest receives large amounts of...
.
Most place names with hyphens are rejected by the Board of Geographic Names, but the board made an exception due to the request to honor the Native American chief. Additionally, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde requested the last word be spelled with a K instead of a C as originally proposed.
External links
- Ki-a-Kuts Falls - Northwest Waterfall Survey
- Native American Placenames of the United States
- Grand opening set for Ki-a-kuts Bridge on Saturday - The Times