Salmon Basin meadow in the Okanogan Forest.

Another effect of fire suppression in Eastern Washington Forests has been a decrease of Aspen forests and meadows such as this one. This meadow is wet in spring, but quickly dries out as summer progresses. When fires are suppressed woody vegetation begins to grow into the meadow from the surrounding forest. Along the edges of this meadow are numerous small trees, all of which have moved into the meadow in the absence of forest fires. Forest fires help to maintain and "groom" meadows by reducing small trees and shrubs, and contributing nutrients and minerals to the growth of grasses and forbs. Meadows contribute to habitat diversity, and habitat diversity supports plant and animal diversity. A number of plants grow in open wet and dry meadow which do not occur in adjacent forests. Throughout this meadow grows Perideridia gairdneri (yampah) which was an important food for Native Americans. It is high in carbohydrates, and would have comprised an important food source for pre-historic people visiting this area. Yampah does not grow in the surrounding forests, only in the meadows and rock outcrops in the Okanogan Forest.