Conservation Commission

The Conservation Office is led by Conservation Agent David Koonce, who serves as the primary contact for the Conservation Commission. Whether you need information about the Commission's work, have inquiries about specific projects, or wish to report potential concerns, the Conservation Agent can assist.

The Conservation Office provides essential administrative support to the Commission and offers expert guidance on natural resources to the local government. This ensures that the needs and priorities of land users are met in alignment with the Chelmsford Master Plan and the Open Space and Recreation Plan, with a primary focus on the protection of open space.

The following properties are open to be enjoyed by the public and are under the responsibility of the Conservation Commission. Trail maps can also be found on the individual Reservation webpages under the Land Management tab.

1. Crooked Spring Reservation
2. Deep Brook Reservation
3. George BB Wright Reservation
4. Lime Quarry Reservation
5. Red Wing Farm
6. Cranberry Bog
7. Russell Mill Reservation
8. Thanksgiving Ground Forest
9. Warren-Pohl Reservation
10. Koulas Farm (Map coming soon)
11. Oak Hill Reservation (Map coming soon)

For any questions about these reservations, please contact the Conservation Agent at 978-250-5248 #2. 

• Chelmsford Wetlands Bylaw
• Chelmsford Wetlands Regulations
• Conservation Reservation Use Restrictions
• Chelmsford Open Space & Recreation Plan
• Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations

• Request for Determination of Applicability FORM
• Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation FORM
• Notice of Intent FORM
• Request for Certificate of Compliance FORM
• Extension Request FORM
• Abutter Notification FORM
• Abutter Notification Affidavit FORM

*** PLEASE NOTE THAT HUNTING IS NOT ALLOWED ON ANY OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION'S PROPERTIES ***

The Conservation Commission is authorized under Massachusetts State Law to have care, custody, and control of Town-owned land, and State law permanently protects such land from non-conservation uses. Please note that the Chelmsford Land Conservation Trust (CLCT), which can also own and manage protected conservation land open to the public, is a private organization with no formal affiliation with the Conservation Commission, although CLCT and the Commission can and often do collaborate on projects of mutual interest to the two organizations.

The Conservation Commission manages each of the properties under its care, custody, and control in one of three ways:

• Reservations provide public access with parking and maintained trail networks. See links to each of the Commission's Reservations below.
• Wildlife Refuges protect sensitive wildlife habitat; public access not permitted. Click here for a list of Wildlife Refuges and associated Use Regulations.
• Conservation Parcels are all other Conservation Commission properties not Reservations or Wildlife Refuges. Some Conservation Parcels may be accessible from a public road, but none provide parking or maintained trails, and many are too wet to walk on. Other Conservation Parcels are completely "landlocked", meaning they are accessible only through abutting private property, which requires the owner's permission. Click here for a list of Conservation Parcels.

Reservations

Reservation Stewardship Model and Use Regulations

• Warren-Pohl
• Koulas Farm
• George B. B. Wright
• Crooked Spring
• Thanksgiving Ground Forest
• Lime Quarry
• Deep Brook
• Oak Hill
• Red Wing Farm
• Russell Mill

• 2025 OSRP Approved Final Draft
• Appendices
• MA Division of Conservation Services Approval Letter