RAINBOW VALLEY AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE, INC.

OPEN SPACE AGRICULTURAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLANTO MAINTAIN1-d-1 TAX STATUS

NATURAL RESOURCES DOCUMENTATION

LOCATION:216.59 acres located in northern Denton County off McReynold's Rd. Approximately 3 miles southeast of Sanger, TX

OWNERSHIP:Rainbow Valley Agricultural Cooperative7023 PR6630Sanger, TX 76266

Legal Description:A1465A GILLESPIE, TR 1,3 AND 6, A0259A CHESSON, TR 5 AND 6, AO664A F. JAIME, TR 22, AO664A F. JAIME, TR 20, A0664A F. JAIME, TR22

ECOTYPE:The area in which the property is located is an important biological range. It is in this area that the rolling plains of Texas and the Post Oak Savannah meet, creating the Cross Timbers region. It is here that you will find overlap in Eastern and Western species, such as Meadowlarks. Rainfall averages 36 a year. While rain may fall in any month, most rain comes in seasonal falls in spring; with additional rainfall in November. Drought is common. Most natural watercourses are dry for much of the year. Major habitats types for this property include tall grass prairie and riparian woodland.

SPECIFICS FOR THIS PROPERTY:Oak is the dominant large tree, with considerable scrub trees growing under the upper layer of oak canopy. All growth is tertiary: that is, the old growth trees have been cleared and in most cases, secondary growth has also been cleared for pasture use. Primarily the trees that exist are the third growth of hardwoods. There is considerable variation in tree size, allowing a maximum of habitat for birds and other tree dwellers. Standing dead trees are scattered throughout the property, providing living, eating and nesting opportunities for all types of wildlife. The variety of trees is good, although there are extensive invasions of Chinese privet and giant cane (bamboo). The grassy areas have been grazed or mown in the past but have been allowed to fall fallow. These areas show promise for native prairie grasses, which is crucial to ecosystem rehabilitation. Some areas already have healthy, intact tall grass prairie which is rare now in Texas and is in need of preservation. Therefor the intact grasslands on this property are valuable. Dominant grasses include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indain grass, side oats gramma. Other grasses include side oats gramma, big-top lovegrass, Hall's panicum, meadow dropseen and silver bluestem. Common forbs, vital to wild animals, include eyebane spurge, Carolina snailseed, white avens, prairie groundsel, prairie petunia and western ironweed. There is moderate encroachment of brush species such as hackberry, ceder elm, Ashe juniper, mesquite, honey locust, and gum bumelia. Native flowers are growing well. There are some invader species of grass, common to grazed sites. Giant cane has invaded some drainage areas next to the dirt road.98 acres of the property is riparian woodland. The dominant tree is primarily mature post oaks, with mature sugarberry, pecan, Shumard red oak and cedar elm. The secondary layer of canopy consists of honey locust, indigo-bush, Western soapberry, American elm, and cottonwood. The understory layer of vines and shrub includes saw breenbrier, summer grape, buttonbush, coralberry, yaupon and the invasive Chinese privet. There is a small amount of bare ground. Ground that recieves sunlight supports Virginia wild rye, knot root bristle grass, small-toothed sedge and Texas wild parsley. The riparian area has tributaries of Clear Creek draining generally southward, emptying into the west-to-east running Clear Creek.The terrain is varied, with high grassy stretches, lowland creek beds, seasonal pools of water, scrub woodland and tall hardwood forest. The soil varies from sandy clay, silty clay, clay loam, stony clay to blackland soil.The ratio of dwellings to wildlife area is low. There are few dwellings and these are kept at low ecological impact. There is no electrical service to the area and the water is provided by a well. Roads are of gravel and serve as excellent highways for wildlife, who leave tracks and scat on a regular basis. Roadside areas are excellent for flower and forb growth, which benefits birds and valuable insects. One or two empty buildings provide homes for Barn Owls.

CURRENT AND PROJECTED USE:* Management of the land for the benefit of native plants and animals. * Protection of valuable Cross Timbers eco-region.* Restoration and management of land for increased biodiversity.* Providing protected areas for rare/engangered/threatened species of plants and animals.

HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN:

Upgrading of habitat for songbirds

Construction of brush piles

Eradication of fire ants

Control of non-native species, such as privet and giant cane

Controlled burning when allowed by local authorities

Construction and deployment of bird boxes

Construction and deployment of bat boxes

Exclusion of disturbances such as motorcycles, atv's and hunters

Maintenance of native plant associations

Water supplementation by providing permanent watering areas

monitoring and census of animal and plant species

Management of habitat for non-game species

Brush management of invasive species

FOLLOWING ARE SPECIES LISTSLists consist of species identified to date. Discovery and identification is ongoing, with many species yet to be listed.

THE LISTED ANIMAL SPECIES USE THE PROPERTY IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

To nest, den or burrow

To hunt, scavenge, browse, feed

To utilize water for mating, tadpole development, drinking

To migrate, disperse

As a stop-over or flyway

As a mating ground

AMPHIBIANS

NOTE: Amphibians are vital indicator species. An indicator species is an animal or plant that shows (indicates) the most basic health of an ecosystem. These species are the first to be negatively impacted by pollution, habitat loss, disappearance of crucial factors such as clean water, pollinating insects or birds, soil degradation or human intrusion. Frogs, toads and salimanders are the first animals to disappear when an area is disturbed or polluted. If there are no frogs or toads, then the habitat may look good but it is actually becoming unuseable for most wildlife, including songbirds and mammals.The presence of several frog and toad species on this property shows that the basic health of the ecosytem is good. Their presence shows that there is fresh water, plentiful insects, clean soil, healthy vegetation. The amphibians also are a basic food for many larger animals.

Eastern Green ToadBufo debilis debilis

Texas ToadBufo Speciosus

Great Plains Narrowmouth ToadGastrophryne olivacea

Coach's SpadefootScaphiopus couchii

Plains Leopard Frog Rana blairi(The Cross Timbers region is at the outermost edge of this frog's range)

Blanchard's Cricket FrogAcris crepitans blanchardi

Mating calls were heard for each of these species in April of 2010. In particular, the Blanchard's Cricket Frog were plentiful in several riparian woodland locations. Rains had been plentiful in winter 2009 and spring 2010, which allowed mating for arid-adapted species which only produce young when they have access to water gathered in ponds, ditches, creeks or pools.

MAMMALS

NOTE: Mammal census was done using tracks, scat and sightings of animals. Most mammals listed at this time are generalists. Generalists are those species which can easily make use of a variety of habitats and are not driven away by the proximity of human activities. Further study may show more habitat-restricted species, which are therefore rare, threatened or endangered in Texas.

OpossumDidelphis marsupialis

Nine Banded ArmadilloDasypus novemcinctus

RaccoonProcyon lotor

Striped SkunkMephitis mephitis

CoyoteCanis latrans

BobcatLynx rufus

White-Ankled MousePeromyscus pectoralis

Wood Rat (also known as Pack Rat)Neotoma floridana

Eastern Cottontail RabbitSylvilagus floridanus

White-Tailed DeerOdocoileus virginianus

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BIRDS

NOTE: The habitats on this property are excellent for a variety of birds. Bird variety can show the health of the ecosystem. Since different kinds of birds have very different nesting, breeding, foraging and wintering needs, an area that supports many types of birds is a valuable place to preserve. With protection and enhancement of the habitats on this property, many song birds, as well as owls, woodpeckers and endangered/threatened species can have a safe place to nest, feed and over-winter.

2008-2010 BIRDS SIGHTED THROUGHTOUT THE YEAR

Black Capped ChickadeeParus atricapillus

Tufted TitmouseParus bicolor

White Crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys

Song SparrowMelospiza melodia

Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis

Yellow-Bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens

Redheaded WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus

Barn OwlTyto alba (one living in an abandoned house, a pair living in another abandoned structure)

Mourning DoveZenaida macroura

Great Blue HeronArdea herodias

RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianus

American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos

Turkey VultureCathartes aura

Sharp-Shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Blue JayCyanocitta cristata(not seen in winter)

Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos(not seen in winter)

2009SPRING-SUMMER

Black Chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandri

Ruby Throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris

House FinchCarpodacus mexicanus(12-14 individuals at the bird bath in back yard. 3-31-09)

Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis

Purple MartinProgne subis(nesting on bedroom window)

Painted BuntingPasserina ciris(male 5-01-09)

Wild TurkeyMeliagris gallopavo(sighted 5-01-09)

Wren sp. ?(Nesting in a building on the property. 5-09)

Yellow WarblerDendroica petechia(sighted 5-12-09)

Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magna

Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglecta

Scissor-Tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus

Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis

Common NighthawkChordeiles minor