Quite often, grasses occupy a small percentage of prime bitterroot environments and a larger proportion of camas meadows. However, there is a concern that the reduction of adequate bitterroot fields and camas meadows is due to grazing. In the case of bitterroot and camas, a biological point of view will shed some light on their relationship with grass and grazing. Both species need to produce chlorophyll and other nutrients for root growth and energy to flower and set seed, typically from late March to late June. Bitterroot is sensitive to competition from neighboring plants for moisture and sunlight, and grazing can reduce those factors.
Seed dispersal is assisted with moderate ground disturbance from stock traffic.
As in the case of any plant species, exposing too much surface area to disturbance or drying out will inhibit growth. Camas requires a great deal of ground moisture early in the season, and seed production is reduced when the flowers are grazed. Changing from natural spring run-off to an irrigation system appears to reduce or entirely eliminate camas by affecting it s biological cycle. However, haying and grazing is a positive influence for the largest outstanding reservation camas population. The hay is cut when the spring inundation is over and seed pods have formed.