Rigsby Community | Home Copy

Nestled in the heart of Weston ETJ, the Rigsby Lane Community is more than just a place—it’s a fiercely cherished sanctuary, a privately owned tapestry of beauty and tranquility woven by a band of devoted residential landowners.

We’ve poured our souls into crafting an extraordinary haven where the rhythms of rural life thrive—where we farm with unbridled freedom, tend our land with pride, and revel in the liberty that only wide-open spaces can offer.

“We stand united to fiercely protect Rigsby Lane’s vibrant wildlife—bees, butterflies, birds, and deer—our thriving water life, including fish, turtles, and aquatic ecosystems, our fertile farmland, pristine waters, and the Blackland Prairie’s soul, ensuring our rural legacy endures against the tide of encroaching urbanization.”

Our road, a lifeline we maintain ourselves, binds us together as stewards of this sacred ground, a testament to our unshakable resolve and neighborly spirit. Resources are here to utilize.

Here, close community ties aren’t just a feature—they’re our lifeblood, forging a unity as rare and enduring as the rolling prairies that surround us.

Rigsby Lane isn’t just where we live—it’s who we are: passionate neighbors determined to preserve the soul of rural Texas.

MISSION

As Weston ETJ expands, we are fiercely committed to preserving its timeless rural beauty and serene charm —standing as guardians of our precious wildlife, vital pollinators, majestic birds, and pristine water resources.

We refuse to let urbanization’s relentless tide destroy the irreplaceable ecosystems that define our home, vowing to protect them with unwavering resolve for generations to come.

INTIATIVE

With passion and purpose, we rise to shield Weston’s natural heritage from the encroaching threats of urban sprawl. Our initiative is a clarion call to safeguard our rolling landscapes, thriving prairies, and life-giving waters—championing the survival of every deer, bobcat, turtle, bee, butterfly, and bird that calls this land home.

Together, we fight to preserve the spirit of our countryside, insisting that advancement cherishes, rather than consumes, the fierce vitality and beating heart of our community.

Welcome to the Rigsby Lane Community

Companies - Organization

Community Wildlife & Ecologic Resources

Overview:

NPAT is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring Texas’s native prairies, which once spanned 20 million acres but now cover less than 1% of the state (per NPAT data) The North Texas Chapter, based near Collin County, targets the Blackland Prairie ecoregion—your area—where urban growth threatens remnants,  making their preservation urgent amid growth pressures like Collin County’s (132% population rise, 2000-2022, Census).

•   Mission: “To conserve native prairies for their ecological, historical, and cultural value,” emphasizing biodiversity, water retention, and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

•   Relevance: NPAT’s expertise in prairie ecosystems and their advocacy for species like bees, butterflies, and birds make them a strong ally for your Rigsby Community group to challenge the FM 455- Outer Loop with ecological arguments.
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What NPAT Do?
NPAT’s North Texas Chapter specializes in identifying and documenting Blackland Prairie remnants—Collin County’s historical ecosystem, now 99% lost (NPAT data). They deploy experts and volunteers (e.g., Prairie Seekers) to survey for native grasses (big bluestem, switchgrass), wildflowers (milkweed, sunflowers), and associated wildlife.

1.   Local Expertise in Collin County
Focus: The North Texas Chapter works in your backyard—Collin, Denton, and Grayson Counties—
where Blackland Prairie remnants persist near Celina, McKinney, and Anna.

Advantage: They know sites like Lavon Lake or Heard Sanctuary, close to Rigsby Community or Bourland
Bend, and can assess your land for prairie value—unlike broader groups like Sierra Club.

2.   Prairie-Specific Conservation
Focus: Protects habitats critical for:
Bees: Bumble bees (Bombus pensylvanicus, B. fraternus) rely on prairie wildflowers (sunflowers,
milkweed).
   Butterflies: Monarchs use milkweed in NPAT’s restoration zones—your ponds align.
   Birds: Grassland species (e.g., meadowlarks) thrive here, tied to MBTA.

Advantage: Prairie loss (99% gone) is a rallying cry—roads like FM 455- Outer Loop threaten what’s left,
giving you a unique angle.

How It Helps:

Surveys Rigsby Community acreage for prairie indicators—e.g., remnant patches near ponds or lake edges.

A report confirming prairie presence elevates your land’s ecological status—grounds for NEPA challenges against FM 455's EIS (e.g., “inadequate prairie impact study”).

Your Tie-In: Collin County’s prairie loss (e.g., Lavon Lake area) mirrors Clymer Meadow’s case—NPAT’s 1,400-acre save there rerouted SH-121 in 2006.

#3 Pollinator Habitat Protection (Bees and Butterflies)

What They Do: NPAT restores habitats for pollinators—bumble bees (Bombus pensylvanicus, B. fraternus, 90% decline) and monarch butterflies (migration route through Collin County). They plant milkweed, sunflowers, and coneflowers, documenting species presence.

How It Helps:

Identifies bees or monarchs on your properties—e.g., milkweed near lake - ponds or sunflowers in Rigsby Community.

Ties to ESA (B. pensylvanicus petitioned) or monarch conservation—FM 455 - Outer Loop habitat loss could trigger federal review.

Your Tie-In: Maddox Prairie’s 17-acre save in Collin County (2018) boosted pollinators—your land could be a similar stronghold.

4. Water Retention and Aquifer Support

What They Do: NPAT emphasizes prairie soils’ ability to retain water—up to 9 inches per hour vs. 0.5 for lawns (USDA data)—reducing runoff and recharging aquifers like the Trinity beneath Collin County.

How It Helps:

Assesses Rigsby Community prairie patches for water benefits—e.g., buffering Rigsby Ponds - Bourland Bend lake from FM 455 siltation.

Data showing aquifer recharge or flood mitigation strengthens Clean Water Act arguments—road runoff risks must be mitigated (e.g., Grand Parkway wetland tweak).

Your Tie-In: Lawther-Deer Prairie’s flood control argument stopped a Dallas County road—your ponds could echo this.

#5 Bird Habitat Preservation

What They Do: NPAT protects grassland bird habitats—e.g., eastern meadowlarks, northern bobwhites—common in Collin County prairies. They collaborate with TPWD on surveys.

How It Helps:

Documents birds on your land—e.g., meadowlarks nesting on Rigsby Community's open acres.

MBTA protection (migratory birds) forces Outer Loop to assess impacts—delays or reroutes (e.g., SH 249 bird data).

Your Tie-In: Clymer Meadow’s bird surveys swayed SH-121—your prairie could do the same.

#6 Conservation Easements to Block Development Statewide (ongoing)

What They Do: NPAT facilitates easements—legal agreements locking land from development for tax breaks (20-40% property value reduction, AgriLife data). They’ve secured 1,000+ acres statewide.

How It Helps:

Offers to place Rigbsy Community - Bourland Bend under easement—prevents eminent domain seizure by TxDOT.

Action: NPAT has facilitated 20+ easements since 1994 (e.g., 50 acres near Sherman, 2022), locking private
lands from development via tax incentives and landowner agreements.

Result: Over 1,000 acres preserved—e.g., Sherman site avoided a warehouse after NPAT’s ecological pitch
(NPAT newsletter, 2023).

Reasons:
Ecological: Prairie supports bees, butterflies, and aquifer recharge—data shared with TPWD.
Community: Educated landowners on tax breaks—20% joined after workshops.

Your Tie-In: Sherman’s 50-acre easement (2022) stopped a warehouse—your land could be untouchable.