Agriculture
Camas Prairie's alluvial soils attest to it's ancient origins as a lake bed. Because the soils are mostly deep and rich in organic material, and the slopes are slight, erosion by wind is not a problem. The short growing season with warm days and cool nights makes it ideal for small grain crops, and alfalfa and grass hay. Organic farming is gaining popularity while pivot irrigation is slowly replacing surface irrigation. Many fields are still sub-irrigated.
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| Surface Residue(L) helps hold in moisture and improve soil tilth. Riparian buffers(R) may look like wasted farmground, but a buffer keeps soil out of the streams. |
| Repairing a streambank or channel is more expensive than protecting them. Loose Rock Chutes(L),and beaver dams(R) are low cost fixes when the damage is already done. |
| Range management's two essential tools: fencing(L) and proper grazing(R). Good managment techniques can keep livestock and the environment on friendly terms. |