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<br />The North Central Plains encompasses the region between northeast <br />Texas and the Caprock Escarpment. This region consists of the Blackland <br />Prairie, the Cross Timbers, and the Rolling Plains. These areas are a <br />southern extension of the Great Midwestern Plains. The Blackland Prairie <br />region is an agriculturally rich, once-broad expanse of bluestem <br />grassland dissected by hardwood forest along stream$. It is now almost <br />entirely cropland and improved pasture. The Cross Timbers and Rolling <br />Plains are mixed prairie-shrub-scrub-woodland areas, predominantly in <br />rangeland use. Oeer, some pronghorn, bobwhite quail, and mourning dove <br />are the principal game species. The Arctic peregrine falcon, bald <br />eagle, and blackfooted ferret are listed endangered species which are <br />known to occur or have occurred in this region. Whooping cranes migrate <br />through the region in spring and fall. <br /> <br />The High Plains west of the Caprock Escarpment is a nearly level <br />short grass prairie, primarily in cropland use. Many small playa lakes <br />are present, making the area important as waterfowl wintering and <br />resting habitat. Large herds of buffalo and pronghorn once roamed this <br />region, but today small mammals and grassland birds, reptiles, and <br />amphibians predominate. Bald eagles, American and Arctic peregrine <br />falcons and blackfooted ferrets may occur in this area. <br /> <br />Fresh warm water fisheries habitat within the counties along the <br />corridor consists of streams, rivers, farm ponds, lakes, and numerous <br />man-made reservoirs. Largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel and <br />flathead catfiosh are the principal native sport fishes. Striped bass, <br />walleye, and other sport species have been introduced in reservoirs. <br /> <br />Cultural Resources. There are 184 sites listed or determined <br />eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places <br />(FR February 6, 1979 and March 18, 1980) from the 36 counties in Texas <br />and Arkansas along the canal corridor. These include identified <br />significant archeological sites and districts, houses, churches, forts, <br />courthouses, hotels, battlefields, and other structures and sites. <br />Southern Arkansas contains numerous historical sites relating to the <br />Civil War ear and is also rich in prehistoric sites. Northeast Texas, <br />because of its prehistorical wildlife resources, was a m~jor center of <br />Indian culture, and military forts marking the advancement of incoming <br /> <br /> <br />042 <br />