Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area

Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Camas lilies blooming in the marsh at sunset
Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh
A map of Idaho showing the location of the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area
A map of Idaho showing the location of the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area
LocationCamas County, Idaho, United States
Nearest cityFairfield, ID
Coordinates43°17′22″N 115°01′06″W / 43.289343°N 115.018402°W / 43.289343; -115.018402
Area3,100 acres (12.5 km2)
Established1987
Governing bodyIdaho Department of Fish and Game
web.archive.org/web/20130131052843/http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/IFWIS/ibt/site.aspx?id=SW31

Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area at 3,100 acres (13 km2) is an Idaho wildlife management area in Camas County south of the community of Hill City.[1] The WMA is at the base of the Bennett Hills on the Camas Prairie south of the Soldier Mountains and Sawtooth National Forest. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game acquired the land in 1987 with the help of Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy to provide quality wetland and upland habitat for migratory and resident wildlife.[2]

The flat tableland on the prairie creates a large floodplain for Camas Creek, flooding the Camas Prairie to a depth of less than 12 in (30 cm) during spring runoff, but it is often dry by mid-July.[3] The shallow water provides habitat for emergent vegetation predominantly Carex and Juncus species.

Camas lilies bloom beginning in late May, and the area attracts many birds, including Canada geese, mallards, gadwalls, American wigeons, northern pintails, northern shovelers, lesser scaup, canvasbacks, redheads, ruddy ducks, and blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teals.[4] Gray partridge and sage grouse are found in upland areas, and there are a variety of other birds species found at the WMA.

  • The marsh in June 2011
  • Camas lilies blooming in the marsh at sunrise
  • A close up photo of a camas lily in the marsh
  1. ^ "Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area". Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  2. ^ Gregory, Terry D.; Apa, Anthony D.; Gorgen, William F.; McDonald, Michael J.; Musil, David D. (July 1999). "Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area: Management Plan" (PDF). Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  3. ^ "Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh, Idaho". Public Lands Information Center. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Wildlife Management Areas". Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2012.