As part of the Upper Columbia Basin Network's effort to conduct vital signs monitoring, we completed monitoring of camas (Camassia quamash) in Big Hole National Battlefield (BIHO) and Nez Perce National Historical Park (NEPE). Camas is a unique resource for these parks because it is both culturally and ecologically significant. Camas was and remains one of the most widely utilized indigenous foods in the Pacific Northwest and it is strongly associated with the wet prairie ecosystems of the region that have been degraded or lost due to historic land use practices. A long-term citizen...

As part of the Upper Columbia Basin Network's effort to conduct vital signs monitoring, we completed monitoring of camas (Camassia quamash) in Big Hole National Battlefield (BIHO) and Nez Perce National Historical Park (NEPE). Camas is a unique resource for these parks because it is both culturally and ecologically significant. Camas was and remains one of the most widely utilized indigenous foods in the Pacific Northwest and it is strongly associated with the wet prairie ecosystems of the region that have been degraded or lost due to historic land use practices. A long-term citizen...

The UCBN recognizes the need to raise overall awareness about the work of the inventory and monitoring (I&M) program, the network's role and activities in I&M, and sharing monitoring status and trend results. Effective communication and outreach is a critical link in dissemination of I&M results. The success of the I&M program ultimately depends on whether park managers find the information produced by the UCBN to be useful in the management of natural resources in their park. In addition, to achieve that success, it is critical that park staff make their needs known to the UCBN. This...