Quamash Prairie Natural Area

Quamash Prairie Natural Area
Quamash Prairie, July 2023
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Location	Washington County, Oregon
Nearest city	Tigard, Oregon
Coordinates	45°24′20″N122°56′05″W / 45.4056475°N 122.9346455°W / 45.4056475; -122.9346455
Area	160 acres (65 ha)
Established	1996
Owner	Oregon Metro

Quamash Prairie Natural Area is a 160-acre protected wet prairie in Washington County, Oregon and bounded by the Tualatin River. It is co-administered by Oregon Metro and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. It is specifically managed as a camas prairie.

History

Quamash Prairie is part of the ancestral homelands of the Tualatin Kalapuya, a tribe affiliated with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The prairie is known for its dense crop of Camassia quamash (known as camas or quamash), an important first food. The specific population of plants found at Quamash Prairie was likely cultivated before western colonization. ^[1]

The area later became known as Gotter Bottom. ^[2] It had been used to grow crops and as pastureland. Metro acquired the first 115 acres of farmland to begin prairie restoration in 1996, establishing Quamash Prairie Natural Area. The second 45-acre parcel of adjacent pasture was purchased and integrated 2006. ^[3]

The land is cooperatively managed by both Oregon Metro and the Indigenous community. Tribal members utilize the land to cultivate and harvest quamash plants, and for other cultural activities. ^[4]

Characteristics

As part of a floodplain of the Tualatin River, the prairie is seasonally inundated. Water levels may reach up to 4 feet deep. ^[3] The mixed aquatic, wooded, and open spaces provide diverse habitat for many species of birds. ^[2]

It is the location of one of only five known populations of tall western penstemon. ^[5]

Restoration

The prairie has been reestablished through the use of prescribed burns and cultural burns, as burning reduces the encroachment of woody species and weeds. It also provides the opportunity for the cultural harvesting of tarweed seeds. ^[6] As bulbs of the quamash plant are consumed by tribal members, herbicide use as a management tool has been discouraged. ^[1]

See also

• Lacamas Prairie Natural Area – a similar Willamette Valley wet prairie located near Lacamas Lake in Washington

References

1. Brian, Oaster (November 13, 2021). "In Oregon, partnerships nurture Indigenous first foods in urban centers". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
2. "Quamash Prairie". East Cascades Bird Alliance. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
3. Zonick, Curt (2018). Using And Evaluating An Integrated Approach To Managing Herbaceous Biomass At Two Prairie And Woodland Sites In The Tualatin River Basin (PDF). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Metro. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
4. Croover-Payette, Amy (July 10, 2017). "Native American community, Metro work together to provide culturally appropriate access to public land". Oregon Metro. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
5. Read, Quinn; Clinch, Jason (December 3, 2020). Petition To List The Tall Western Penstemon (Penstemon hesperius) Under The Endangered Species Act And Concurrently Designate Critical Habitat (PDF). Center For Biological Diversity/Native Plant Society of Oregon. p. 11. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
6. Eldridge, Cory (January 2, 2020). "Restoring fire: prescribed burn at Quamash Prairie reconnects land, culture and habitat". Oregon Metro. Retrieved June 28, 2025.