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Wet Prairie

A photo of wet prairie habitat. In the foreground there are pink checkermallow flowers and  prairie grasses. Douglas-fir trees line the background.
A photo of wet prairie habitat. In the foreground there are pink checkermallow flowers and  prairie grasses. Douglas-fir trees line the background.

Wet prairies were once a common habitat in the floodplain of the Willamette River. These habitats occur on poorly drained clay soils or shallow soils above bedrock. Seasonal flooding creates anaerobic wetland soil characteristics (hydric). Many wet prairies were also historically maintained by late summer fires initiated by the Native Americans. Wet prairies are dominated by herbaceous plants, with some native grass species.

Flora

Grasses/Sedges:

Tufted hairgrass Roemers fescue
One-sided sedge Denseleaf sedge

Forbs

Camas Oregon sunshine
Elegant downingia Checkermallows

 

Fauna

Canada goose Northern harrier
Wilson s snipe American grass bug
Short-eared owl Gray fox