This document provides details about the Rainbow Valley Agricultural Cooperative's 216-acre property in Denton County, Texas, which they manage for open space and wildlife. The property contains a mix of habitats including tall grass prairie and riparian woodland. Current and planned management activities focus on habitat restoration and protection of native plants and animals, including conducting controlled burns, removing invasive species, and monitoring wildlife. Lists of observed amphibian, mammal, and bird species demonstrate the biodiversity supported by the property.

1. RAINBOW VALLEY AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE, INC.
OPEN SPACE AGRICULTURAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN
TO MAINTAIN
1-d-1 TAX STATUS

2. 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 Cooperative
7023 PR6630
Sanger, 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

3. 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.

4. 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 LISTS
Lists 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

5. 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 Toad
Bufo debilis debilis
Texas Toad
Bufo Speciosus
Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad
Gastrophryne olivacea
Coach's Spadefoot
Scaphiopus couchii
Plains Leopard Frog
Rana blairi
(The Cross Timbers region is at the outermost edge of this frog's range)
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris 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.

6. 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.
Opossum
Didelphis marsupialis
Nine Banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Coyote
Canis latrans
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
White-Ankled Mouse
Peromyscus pectoralis
Wood Rat (also known as Pack Rat)
Neotoma floridana
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Sylvilagus floridanus
White-Tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus

7. 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 Chickadee
Parus atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse
Parus bicolor
White Crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Redheaded Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
(one living in an abandoned house, a pair living in another abandoned structure)
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura

8. Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
(not seen in winter)
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
(not seen in winter)
2009
SPRING-SUMMER
Black Chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
(12-14 individuals at the bird bath in back yard. 3-31-09)
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Purple Martin
Progne subis
(nesting on bedroom window)

9. Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
(male 5-01-09)
Wild Turkey
Meliagris gallopavo
(sighted 5-01-09)
Wren sp. ?
(Nesting in a building on the property. 5-09)
Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia
(sighted 5-12-09)
Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella magna
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatus
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor

10. Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
(male 5-01-09)
Wild Turkey
Meliagris gallopavo
(sighted 5-01-09)
Wren sp. ?
(Nesting in a building on the property. 5-09)
Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia
(sighted 5-12-09)
Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella magna
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus forficatus
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor