Chesterfield Open Space and Recreation Plan Draft Update

OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN CHESTERFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 2023 DRAFT UPDATE Prepared by: Liam Gude Bindu Nicholson Adam Stoumen

TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1: Plan Summary ..................................................................................................................................3 Section 2: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................6 A. Statement of Purpose ....................................................................................................................................7 B. Planning Process and Public Participation ................................................................................................8 Section 3: Community Setting ........................................................................................................................9 A. B. C. D. E. F.

Regional Context ..........................................................................................................................................10 History of the Community .........................................................................................................................12 Population Characteristics ..........................................................................................................................13 Growth and Development Patterns .........................................................................................................16 COVID-19, the Gorge, and Other Areas of Popular Recreation Interest ........................................19 Long-Term Development Patterns ...........................................................................................................20

Section 4: Environmental Inventory and Analysis .................................................................................29 A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.

Geology, Soils, and Topography ...............................................................................................................30 Landscape Character ....................................................................................................................................32 Water Resources ...........................................................................................................................................33 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................................................37 Fisheries and Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................40 Scenic Resources and Unique Environments .........................................................................................42 Environmental Challenges ..........................................................................................................................44 Climate Change .............................................................................................................................................46

Section 5: Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest .......................................60 A. B. C. D. E.

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................61 Private Parcels ...............................................................................................................................................62 Working Chapter Lands ..............................................................................................................................65 Public and Non-Profit Parcels ...................................................................................................................68 Inventory of Recreation Trails ...................................................................................................................72

Section 6: Community Vision ........................................................................................................................80

A. Description of Process ................................................................................................................................81 B. Vision Statement ..........................................................................................................................................81 C. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ...................................................................................82

Section 7: Analysis of Needs ..........................................................................................................................83

A. Summary of Resource Protection Needs .................................................................................................84 B. Summary of Community Needs ................................................................................................................85 C. Management Needs, Potential Change of Use .......................................................................................87

Section 8: Objectives and Goals....................................................................................................................90 Section 9: Action Plan for 2030.....................................................................................................................92 Section 10: Public Comments .................................................................................................................... 104 Section 11: References .................................................................................................................................. 106 Appendix A: 2022 OSRP Community Survey Results ...................................................................... 111 Appendix B: 2023 Community Workshop Agendas ......................................................................... 139 Appendix C: 2023 Community Workshop Results ............................................................................ 143 Appendix D: Funding Opportunities ...................................................................................................... 158

SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY 3

Section 1: Plan Summary Chesterfield residents care deeply about their town and the health of the ecosystems that lie within it. From hiking to hunting, snowmobiling to kayaking, fishing, swimming, tracking, and birdwatching, there are many ways residents interact with the natural world and appreciate the rural lifestyle Chesterfield affords. To maintain the character of the town and the health of its ecosystems amidst larger changes and developments, the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) must be updated and enacted, incorporating residents’ visions and concerns for the future of their town. The plan is a document for inspiration when envisioning the future character and ecosystem health of Chesterfield. To receive state funding for open space the OSRP must be updated and completed every seven years.

The Conway School students and Chesterfield resident committee reflected on aspects of the 2003 plan that were not implemented in order to identify how to best set goals and objectives for conservation and development of the town moving forward. This analysis also highlighted areas and topics that were outside the scope of the OSRP but nonetheless important to residents and the town character and ecological health.

Creating a comprehensive land use plan in the near future will help address a greater scope of issues. Three broad goals specific to open space and recreation emerged from the work done by Conway School students and the resident committee.

Goal #1 - Encourage the sustainable use, management, and protection of open spaces.

Residents acknowledge that the natural resources in town are what make Chesterfield so cherished.

In order to enjoy the multitude of benefits from these robust ecosystems, they must continue to be sustainably used, managed, and protected. The intent of the first goal is to preserve and protect open space including working lands. Secondly, building a vibrant public education program of Chesterfield’s natural resources that also provides tools for stewardship is being advocated for in this plan.

Goal #2 - Maintain and preserve the town’s historical and cultural heritage.

Important to the character and history of town is the maintenance of old cemeteries, mills, and cellar holes, bridges, foundations and more within the open space landscape. Equally important, and needing more attention, is preservation of the history of indigenous peoples in Chesterfield: Indigenous sites should be added to the inventory of protected sites.

Goal #3 - Enhance and expand recreational amenities and opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.

Residents expressed a desire for improved access and pedestrian connectivity of town-owned lands in the town center. Through problem-solving the issue of many state agencies owning open space land, residents advocated for the development of stronger relationships with public and non-profit landowners for land stewardship and improved recreation access.

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CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY 4

A combination of low-density dwellings, reforested landscapes, and protected lands has sustained the rural character of the town. Chesterfield has also continued its tradition of working forests and farmlands, something the town has practiced since it was settled in 1762. Most residents today commute to nearby towns for work or work from home. Forests and fields—especially agriculture land—throughout the town are likely places for continued residential development of first or second homes. When considering the impacts of broadband, COVID-19, and the housing crisis on development patterns, rural America and small towns could see an increase in population and, therefore, development pressures. Zoning is one tool for managing future development, but Chesterfield’s current zoning regulations do not regulate or guide development or conservation along the expressed interests of residents, nor the stated intentions of the by-laws. The zoning by-laws state that low-density development should be the encouraged form of development to keep with the town’s rural character. But low-density development does not inherently protect rural character or natural resources. Often it is quite the reverse: low-density development leads to sprawl, highly fragmented ecosystems, and increased costs of services for towns. A comprehensive land use plan, or master plan, would help regulate growth and development.

Chesterfield has a healthy portion of ecologically sensitive habitat in permanent and temporary conservation.

There are still ecologically sensitive habitats that are susceptible to development due to their unprotected or temporarily protected status. These unprotected areas include corridors along the east side of the Westfield River and corridors along the Dead Branch Brook. Considering the decrease in state aid over the last quarter of a century and the increased importance of conserving intact forests (for carbon sequestration and preserving biodiversity), it’s paramount that small towns band together in advocating for adequate funding needed for sound governance in grappling with issues of development and ecosystem stewardship. The town’s success in planning its future depends on the involvement of its enthusiastic citizens, who are needed to protect the town’s abundant resources and character for future generations of residents and inhabitants, animals and people alike.

Through community workshops, surveys, and stakeholder conversations 1 held from 2022 to 2023, it became clear that the community of Chesterfield has varied concerns and priorities, but there is also strong common ground. The protection of wildlife habitat, working forests and farmlands, open fields, and scenic views was strongly encouraged, as was the sustainable use of such areas through hunting, fishing, and hiking. Residents expressed a desire to enhance the public land for passive recreation and increase maintenance of trails and other amenities. There is also a growing desire for more active recreation, possibly located in the town center.

Protection of rural character was a strong theme throughout most discussions, which seemed to be defined by the distinct natural resources of the area, the low population density, the nearness yet dissimilarity to places such as Northampton, and the past agricultural practices that still define parts of town. Therefore, calls to protect rural character encompass protecting natural resources, protecting the town from over-development, protecting historical sites that have cultural significance, and protecting working lands such as farms and forestry operations

1 Stakeholders included the Trustees, Conservation Commission, Westfield Wild and Scenic, Council on Aging, and the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY 5

Section 2: Introduction

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION 6

Section 2: Introduction A. Statement of Purpose

The Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) for the Town of Chesterfield updates and builds upon the previous OSRP written in 2003 as a guide for future open space and recreation planning. Twenty years later, Chesterfield’s presence in Western Massachusetts as a small-town, close-knit rural community, with an abundance of undeveloped gorgeous and ecologically sensitive land, has remained unchanged. At the same time, in many ways the town has changed, with new residents moving in and shifting priorities concerning open space and recreation. As such, the motivating factors for writing the OSRP encompass both preserving Chesterfield’s identity as an ecological jewel and speaking to contemporary open space and recreation issues.

What are some of those motivating factors? In the grant written by the Town Conservation Commission to fund this project, there was an expressed desire to understand how to: continue protecting Chesterfield’s natural resources while maintaining the Town’s financial sustainability, prepare for increasing development pressure, accommodate the open space needs of all residents including new ones and the town’s increasing elderly population, manage the carrying capacity of popular ecologically sensitive recreational areas and assess the conditions of the town’s existing natural resources. Additionally, the OSRP would serve as the first step in the process of completing a comprehensive land use plan. This updated OSRP seeks to address some of those motivating factors through achievable, thoughtful, and collaborative goals and recommendations that residents created which protect and enhance open space and recreational opportunities in Chesterfield.

Updates since the 2003 OSRP Twenty years since the completion of the 2003 Open Space and Recreation Plan, Chesterfield’s efforts to protect and enhance open space and recreational opportunities has been incremental.

While most of the 2003 action plan steps have not been implemented, some progress has been made: Trails In August 2020, the Council on Aging created a grant funded walking brochure called Chesterfield Walks which includes a map of walking trails throughout the town. Many Chesterfield residents diligently participated in inventorying walking paths to include in the map.

Water Resources Several vernal pools have been certified and the Chesterfield Conservation Commission continues to take action to protect wetlands and keep them healthy.

Russell Park Over a decade ago, a skate park was added to Russell Park and is now utilized by many young residents and visitors to the Town.

Open Space Protection Mass Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife have purchased and permanently protected almost 50% more land in Chesterfield since 2003. In 2003 the total amount of state and federal land in Chesterfield was 3,411 acres. The current total is 6,234 acres. In 2020, 16 acres of land near the Chesterfield Gorge was purchased by a private non-profit with the intent to conserve the property.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION 7

Westfield River Protection of the wildlife corridor and tributaries surrounding the Westfield River is continued by different state, federal, and non-profit, conservation entities.

Tolgy Wood In 2018, The Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America sold their 186-acre Chesterfield Scout Reservation open space property to Tolgy Wood LLC, a role-playing company and event space who will keep the land undeveloped (Dunua 2018).

Sidewalks Sometime between 2012-2014, Chesterfield installed new sidewalks at the intersection of Route 143 and North and South streets.

Caretaker at Tolgy Wood building a water bar to prevent erosion on the 186-acre property formerly used as the Chesterfield Scout Reservation (Dunau, 2018, Photo by Crosby)

B. Planning Process and Public Participation

Funded by a grant from the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the Town of Chesterfield hired the Conway School of Landscape Design (CSLD) as consultants to prepare a draft Open Space and Recreation Plan. This plan was created in collaboration with the Open Space and Recreation Core Committee and interested Chesterfield residents. The OSRP committee included John Follet Chair of the Conservation Commission; Julia Freegood, a Senior Fellow and Senior Program Advisor at the American Farmland Trust; Denise Cormier, founding president of the Hilltown Land Trust and Chesterfield Representative on the Westfield River Wild & Scenic Committee; Sarah Hamilton, board member of the Hilltown Community Development Corp; and Jan Gibeau, Director of Chesterfield’s Council on Aging. The CSLD team included Liam Gude ‘23, Bindu Nicholson ’23, and Adam Stoumen ’23.

In March 2022, prior to CSLD student involvement, the OSRP committee sent out a town-wide survey reaching 149 residents. The survey collected information on the existing open space and recreation opportunities that residents value, appreciate, and participate in. The survey also asked residents to share what they would like to see the OSRP plan address. The OSRP Committee created a summary report of the survey results and distributed it to town residents. (See survey and responses in Appendix A) In January 2023, the CSLD students began work with the OSRP committee. The CSLD students and OSRP committee planned and conducted two community engagement workshops held in the Chesterfield Community Center. The meetings were publicized through the Town website, Facebook, town-wide robo calls, flyers, and word-of-mouth. During the first meeting, held on February 4, 2023, over 40 residents shared and identified their open space and recreational concerns, interests, and needs, and discussed hopeful visions for the future. CSLD students recorded resident responses and complied the data into a workshop results document (See workshop results in Appendix C). During the second meeting, held on March 5, 2023, and attended by around 35 residents, Conway School students presented what was heard from residents during the first meeting and an analysis of the town’s open space conditions. Residents used this information to refine their open space and recreation goals and envision how they might be achieved. The CSLD students carried out the research and writing of the report with the support of the OSRP team, Conway faculty and staff, and interviews with relevant stakeholder

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION 8

Section 3: Community Setting

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING 9

Section 3: Community Setting A. Regional Context

The Hilltowns are a staple of the western Massachusetts landscape. Steep, wet, and densely covered hardwood forests characterize this part of the New England landscape. Compared to other parts of the state, the land base economy of maple sugaring, timber harvesting, pastureland, and food production is alive and well in this region. Trails to hike, bike, and ski on and water bodies to swim, paddle, and fish in are numerous within this region. This area plays a major role in the climate resiliency of the state as it contains a high level of land cover that sequesters carbon, making the land use and development trends important considerations.

A Piece of the Hilltown Region Chesterfield is nestled within the Hilltown region of western Massachusetts. In between the Berkshire highland towns to the west, and the Connecticut river valley towns to the east, the Hilltowns are in the foothills of the Berkshires and made up of small communities each with their own sense of character.

Chesterfield is a small town of 1,186 according to the 2020 census and is part of the “Northern Hilltown Collaborative” a group of towns that has spearheaded regional planning initiatives like a multi-town Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) plan. The Northern Hilltown Collaborative includes the bordering towns of Cummington to the north, Goshen to the northeast, and Worthington to the west that share natural resources, trail networks and critical habitat. Also bordering Chesterfield are the towns of Williamsburg to the east and Westhampton to the south. Of the bordering towns, Goshen and Williamsburg are the only two with an Open Space and Recreation Plan that has been updated within the last three years.

Only 13 miles away is the larger economic hub of Northampton. Chesterfield encompasses 31.24 square miles or 19,996 acres and is an important ecological puzzle piece to regional connectivity and resilience.

Rolling Hills, Wet Forests The vegetative, hydrologic, and topographic patterns in Chesterfield’s landscape create three distinct zones. The eastern portion consists of forested rolling hills interspersed with wetlands, water bodies, and some flatter land used for agriculture.

The northwest portion contains more rugged topography in the form of steeper hills and peaks that support dense forest cover.

The southwest portion contains a ridgeline as the defining landform, which hosts some ridgetop agricultural land as it gives way to a wet valley before rising again as it crosses into Worthington. Those peaks and valleys throughout the town create a dynamic landscape with elevations ranging from 570 feet to 1500 feet. Chesterfield is also bisected by Route 143, running east to west, and the Westfield River, running north to south. (See Landscape Character Map 3-2) The Westfield River and Watershed Most of Chesterfield’s land area is within the Westfield River Watershed, with a small portion in the southwest corner that is within the Connecticut River Watershed (See Watershed Map 3-3) The East Branch, one of three branches that make up the Westfield River, runs the length of the Town’s north and south borders and flows north to south. The river was the first in the state to have sections of it designated federally as a “wild and scenic river system” in 1993. Today, 78 miles of the river has this designation which means there is a management plan in place and the river meets criteria like possessing outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish, wildlife, historic, or cultural features under the Wild and Scenic River Act of Congress (Westfield Wild & Scenic). The East Branch and its headwater tributaries provide a variety of

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING 10

important habitats including cold water streams, juvenile salmon habitat, freshwater wetlands, one of the longest connected river systems in the Northeast of more than 200 miles, a variety of rare natural communities, and an intact forest area of more than 15,000 acres. The approximately 4,000 acres of protected forests and the relatively low amount of development surrounding the banks of the Westfield River within Chesterfield help to preserve an abundance of critical habitat, recreational opportunities, and support a healthy watershed with clean water.

Transportation State Route 143 is the Town’s major road within its borders for 8 miles east to west. This main thoroughfare connects Chesterfield to Route 9 and I-91 and larger towns and cities like Northampton, Easthampton, Hadley, Springfield, Greenfield, and Amherst and makes it easy to work outside of town. The average travel time to work in Chesterfield has barely changed from 2000 to 2020. According to the 2003 OSRP, the 2000 US Census reported an average travel time to work was 29.4 minutes. In 2020, that number only slightly increased as residents commuted an average of 30.8 minutes. This is 6 minutes longer than the average commute for the county which is 24.9 minutes. It also makes it a candidate for part-time residence for people living farther away in cities like Boston, 115 miles away and New York, 175 miles away.

The primary north-south running streets are aptly named North Road and South Street. North road eventually turns into Damon Pond Road and connects back to Route 9. At the main intersection of 143 and North Road and South Street, a library, town offices, Town Hall, a park, and other amenities contribute to the historical village of Chesterfield. About 4 miles west on route 143 is the historic village of West Chesterfield that intersects with the Westfield River. These two villages along with four cemeteries and Bisbee Mill are nationally registered historic districts meaning they are eligible for a 50/50 matching grant to preserve and improve elements like gravestones, rebuilding walls, and new paint. Although Route 143 helps connect Chesterfield economically, the large section of impervious surface with relatively heavy traffic for the area, causes ecological fragmentation.

Recreation Chesterfield has both passive and active recreation, but it is known for its passive forms such as the many marked and unmarked trails, swimming and kayaking spots, scenic views, and old roads that many use for walking. A large amount of publicly accessible natural areas including dramatic features like the Chesterfield Gorge attract visitors and residents alike. For active recreation there is Russell Park, located in the center of town, which has a baseball field, tennis courts, basketball, a skate park, and a playground. There are also opportunities for activities like hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, hunting, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, cross-country skiing, and biking. Two local businesses use recreation and tourism for their enterprise. The Four Seasons Club maintains trails for hunting, leads fishing trips, and snowmobiling tours. A dog sledding company offers sledding adventures through the hills of Chesterfield. The largest draw to Chesterfield is the gorge on the Westfield River that boasts 30-foot rocky cliffs and gorgeous rapids and waterfalls. This helps define the reputation of Chesterfield within the Pioneer Valley as a destination for natural beauty. The gorge, managed by the Trustees, is a place where people congregate for swimming, fishing, and nature walks.

Regional Partnerships Chesterfield has a key role in connecting conserved land in the region. Working with agencies which hold conservation interests in the town and the region is a vital part of creating a healthy environment for planning for future climate change realities. Organizations and state agencies like Mass Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Mass Fish and Wildlife, Hilltown Land Trust, The Trustees of Reservations, the Westfield Wild

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING 11

and Scenic Committee, The Nature Conservancy, and US Fish and Wildlife all have a vested interest in how this region is managed for the betterment of people, animals, and plants. Working to prioritize goals and lands to protect resources in a strategic manner can help mitigate the impacts of incoming climate and development pressures.

B. History of the Community

Summary: While Chesterfield’s main village center is along route 143, there used to be others: Bisbeeville, West Chesterfield, Sugar Hill and Bofat were settled by colonists in 1762 and acted as small village centers. Before settler colonialism, Pocumtuc and Nipmuc peoples relation to these lands may have revolved around hunting and fishing until they were systematically displaced by settlers. Present as well were Pequot Indians, who appeared to have villages, the last one being near the gorge. In the late 18th century, the settler economy that was established in Chesterfield primarily involved agricultural, timber, and water-powered industries until the mid-1900’s. Limited agricultural practices, a new commuting population, and a regenerated forest over much of the former pastureland have sustained the rural character of Chesterfield.

“The town of Chesterfield has its roots deeper into time than the date of its incorporation.”

- Bicentennial Genealogy Committee, 1962 Before colonial settlement, Nipmuc and Pocumtuc people lived in Chesterfield, and may have functioned as “small bands … pursuing wild game and fish” (MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report 2). Chesterfield’s “rugged terrain provided an excellent habitat for wild game such as fowl, wolf, bear, deer, moose, etc., animals traditionally sought by native hunters” (MHC). The indigenous population also consisted of “small bands of Connecticut River natives displaced during King Philip’s War and the French and Indian wars of the late 17th and 18th centuries” (MHC). Settlement by colonists was slow, though. Chesterfield was granted to settlers in 1739, when veterans from King William’s armies were granted land by the British Government soon after the Narragansett War. A proclamation issued by the governor promised them “...if they played the man, took the fort and drove the enemy [native American tribes] out of the Narragansett Country, which is their great seat, they should have a gratuity of land besides their wages.” Ruth Baker, a local historian, noted that: “The General Court granted the ‘Rights’ of land to the soldiers or their heirs and they became proprietors. The proprietors sold their land to land speculators who hoped for financial gain. The speculators in turn sold to men and women who were courageous enough to make new homes in this frontier country.” (Baker) The South Worthington Parish, a booklet written from 1899-1905 by Reverend George Reed Moody, documents the last Pequot village 2 in “West Chesterfield, near the gorge” (Moody 44). Near this site “the last battle between whites and the Indians” supposedly took place, and that “the white men ambuscaded [sic] the Indians and over a hundred were killed. From that time on this section was free for settlement, whereas previous to 1749 no settler was safe hereabouts” (62). After a quarter century of granting land, establishing proprietors to found the town, and eradicating original Americans from their ancestral territory, Chesterfield was incorporated on June 11, 1762, at the first town meeting.

Land use during colonial settlement consisted of timber harvesting, tanneries, sheep grazing, and dairy production and were some of the foundational industries to Chesterfield’s small economy (Merritt). These industries, especially sheep grazing and agriculture, decreased as the economy changed (the Merino sheep craze ended) and the westward expansion of settlers resulted in new agriculture ventures with better growing conditions (Garrison 101). Today, only 6% of agricultural lands are still being used for agriculture beyond hay and pasture.

2 In this same area, around the same time as Reverend George Moody was writing was Chandler Bicknell, who built the Nutshell house and “personally cleared and fixed up an area around what he called Pequot Springs. This was a very clear flowing spring of crystal water at the northern extremity of the Gorge near the ruins of the abutment of the old bridge across the river” (Higgins)

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C. Population Characteristics

Summary: Census data show that Chesterfield’s population in 2020 was 1,186. Many people also have second homes in Chesterfield, living in the town part time. While Chesterfield and other Hilltowns in the county have experienced population decreases over the last couple decades, there are outside forces such as broadband, climate change, and the Covid-19 pandemic which may lead to future population growth. Over 20% of residents are 65 and older. Households in Chesterfield earn a median of $80,156. Many residents work outside of town and those who are employed in Chesterfield mostly work in the Education Services, and H eath Care and Social Assistance industry.

Population Trends According to the 2020 Census, the population of Chesterfield stood at 1,186 people. Within the last forty years, Chesterfield’s overall population has remained stable, hovering somewhere between 1,000 and 1,222 residents (Table 3.1). Yet, over the last decade, there has been a 3% decrease in Chesterfield’s population. This decline is consistent with decreases in population seen in more than half of Hampshire County’s rural Hilltown’s, including Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, and Plainfield (Table 3.1). This downward population trend is also reflected at the national level, with the Census showing that between 2010 and 2020 rural American communities faced historic population losses (Johnson, 2022). Notably, Chesterfield population in 1790 was 1183 people, three people less than in 2020, which reflects how the town has experienced minimal population growth.

Table 3.1 – Chesterfield and Surrounding County Hilltown Populations Town Chesterfield Cummington Goshen Huntington Middlefield Plainfield Westhampton Williamsburg Worthington

1980 1,000 657 651 1,804 385 425 1,137 2,237 932

1990 1,048 785 830 1,987 392 571 1,327 2,515 1,156

2000 1,201 978 921 2,174 542 589 1,468 2,427 1,270

Source: American Community Survey and Division of Local Services

2010 1,222 872 1,054 2,180 521 648 1,607 2,482 1,156

2020 1,186 829 960 2,094 385 633 1,622 2,504 1,193

Future Impacts on Population Chesterfield finished installing broadband in January 2022, bringing high speed internet to over 80% of its residents (West and Henry). Access to broadband can support population growth in rural communities in Western Massachusetts through increasing economic development (Tafoya et al.). This also makes it easier for residents to work from home. The 2020 census shows that 8.3% of Chesterfield residents already work from home. Additionally, according to Town assessor data, out of the 975 tax parcels in Chesterfield, 79, or 8% of people have an out of state primary address. Though it is difficult to quantify, this number shows that Chesterfield is a moderately popular place to have a second home, cabin, a rental home, or undeveloped land.

Given these factors, Chesterfield’s population might grow as a result of broadband creating more job opportunities and the option for remote work.

Millennials are the most likely age group to be working remotely as the flexibility of workplaces grows. They are also now starting families and entering the housing market as the largest age group. With broadband, access to larger economic centers, and ample outdoor recreational opportunities, Chesterfield could become a desirable location for millennials seeking a first home.

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The effects of climate change through sea level rise, increased precipitation, and more frequent droughts will create climate refugees who may be forced to flee their homes (Vock). According to findings within the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) Exploring Financial Impacts of Land Conservation on the Town of Chesterfield report, Chesterfield may experience population growth due to climate migration, “with the likely climate-related migration of people to safer and cooler places” (PVPC). This would have a myriad of downstream effects including but not limited to more economic resources allocated to maintenance of town roads, upkeep or expansion of the elementary school, more strain on the groundwater capacity as more wells are drilled, potential for subdividing of lots to build more housing stock, increase demand for town center amenities, and increase necessity for emergency services.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, rural communities received an influx of new residents and much of this movement was to towns with recreational activities and retirement communities (Gibson). If this trending interest in rural communities continues, Chesterfield may also gain new residents.

For a town like Chesterfield that operates at a slower pace, a comprehensive land-use plan for Chesterfield that incorporates planning for population growth is important. The sustainability of Chesterfield’s open space might be put a risk without improvements to outdoor recreational infrastructure that can support increases in carrying capacity. Features like benches, proper signs, maps, and maintenance of trails condenses high impact use to certain areas and limits misuse, therefore leading to more ecologically sustainable open spaces.

Population by Age Table 3.2 - Populations by Age Across the United States, the population of older adults Selected Age Number of Percent of Total has rapidly increased, and by 2030, 21% of the Categories Individuals Population (1186) population will be 65 and older (Vespa, 2018).

9 Years & Chesterfield’s population of residents aged 65 and older 47 3.9% Under already makes up 21.7% of the total population (Table 3.2).

10-19 174 14.6% This trend underscores the importance of accommodating and understanding the open space and recreational needs 20-29 25 2.3% of the aging population in Chesterfield, such as providing ADA accessible walking paths and sidewalks to connect 25-44 214 18% town facilities in the center of town. Additionally, according to the Massachusetts Healthy Aging 45-64 391 32.9% Collaborative, Chesterfield is an American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) “active age-friendly community” 65 & Over 236 21.7% (Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative).

Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2021) Chesterfield uses AARP tools and models to inform surveys, community forums, and other actions necessary to address providing “safe, walkable streets; agefriendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life” (AARP).

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Population Density The population density for Chesterfield is 39 people per square mile, eight times smaller than the density in Hampshire County. Population densities in the county’s Hilltowns range from 30 people per square mile in Plainfield to 97 people per square mile in Williamsburg. Additionally, over 90 percent of the houses in Chesterfield are single family homes, amongst a total of 618 housing units, dispersed widely throughout the town.

Chesterfield will have to consider tools that help with planning for higher density development because an increase in population density, as foretold by possible future population increases, may affect the rural character of the town and negatively impact open space.

Table 3.3 - Chesterfield and Surrounding Counties Population Density

Economic Characteristics In 2021 the median family income in Chesterfield was $80,156, which is 3% higher than the county (Table 3.4). In the 2000 census, Chesterfield’s median family income was $57,361 which, adjusted for inflation, comes to approximately $61,752 in 2021. In 2000, a median family income in Hampshire County was $46,098, putting Chesterfield’s median family income at nearly 20% higher than the county’s median at that time.

Table 3.4 - Per Capita Income, Median Household Income, and Percentage Below Poverty Level for Chesterfield compared to Hampshire County

Town

Density (sq mi)

Chesterfield

39

Cummington

36

Goshen

54

Huntington

78

Middlefield

16

Plainfield

30

Westhampton

59

Williamsburg

97

Worthington

37

Source: American Community Survey

Geography

Per Capita Income

Median Household Income in 2019

Percentage of Individuals Below Poverty Level

Chesterfield

$40,202

$80,156

3.9%

Hampshire County

$39,501

$77,495

11.8%

Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2021)

Chesterfield’s proximity to urban areas allows for the majority of its workforce to work outside of the town.

Residents commute an average of 30.8 minutes to surrounding towns, such as Easthampton and Northampton. This is 6 minutes longer than the average commute for the county which is 24.9 minutes.

Since many Chesterfield residents spend their time outside of Chesterfield for work, during their downtime they may seek more local opportunities for recreation, supporting the need for robust open space and recreational opportunities. 30.8 percent of those who work in town work in the Education and Health Care and Social Assistance industries. Work in construction and manufacturing industries in Chesterfield leads next with 16% and 14.8%, respectively (Table 3.5). The top five employers include the Chesterfield Fire Department, the New Hingham Regional Elementary School, Davenport Child Care Center, Henshaw Artesian Well Drilling, and Hicks Kent Construction Co (Table 3.6).

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Table 3.5 - Top 10 Industries Company Name

Percentage Employed

Educational services, and health care and social assistance

Table 3.6 - Top 10 Largest Current Employers Company Name

Number of Employees

30.8

Chesterfield Fire Dept

20-49

Construction

16

New Hingham Regional Elementary

20-49

Manufacturing

14.8

Davenport Child Care Center

10-19

Retail Trade

10.7

Henshaw Artesian Well Drilling/ Henshaw Well Drilling

10-19

Public administration

5.4

Hicks Kent Construction Co

10-19

5.2

Hilltown Community Development/ Hilltown Community

10-19

4.9

Bonnie's Place

5-9

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities

3.2

Chesterfield Police Dept

5-9

Other services, except public administration

2.7

Inn Nature

5-9

Information

2.2

Trucking & Excavation Inc

5-9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

Source: American Community Survey (2020)

Source: Massachusetts Department of Economic Research

D. Growth and Development Patterns

Summary: The patterns of development in Chesterfield have changed from more village-centric to now more single-family and dispersed. The current town center, Bisbeeville, West Chesterfield, Sugar Hill and Bofat were early settlements that acted as the hubs of village life. These were New England villages that clustered around a main road, a church, a meeting hall, and or certain crafts.

During this period, much of the forests were cut for timber, pasturing, and agriculture. This radical change in land cover left much of New England looking pastoral and treeless. Current development patterns conform to a single-family, low-density pattern of development, but the forests have been regenerated. Fields without agricultural operations are prime areas for development, considering their flat topography, well-draining soils, and already de-forested nature. While current development pressures in Chesterfield are light, single-family houses on large lots dispersed throughout town have the unintended consequence of creating suburban-type sprawls that fragment ecosystems,

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require personal vehicles to go small distances, and fail to create village-style interactions that older New-England-village-style design may have engendered.

Patterns and Trends Chesterfield’s high elevation and sloping, forested topography result in limited prime agricultural soil. These conditions made the town less attractive to white settler farmers trying to grow crops in the 18th and 19th century. Instead, like many areas with steep slopes and rocky soil, and based on patterns seen across New England and Massachusetts, the forests were mostly cleared for timber and sheep farming (Garrison 2003).

Although data is not available for Chesterfield, in Harvard Forest’s 1830 state map of woodlands, the bordering towns were mostly cleared with only forests existing on higher and steeper terrain. It is likely that a similar trend occurred in Chesterfield and the forests that now make up 85% of land cover (See map D-1) are a result of abandonment of farming following the industrial revolution. Some upland agriculture continues along meadows and prime soils as seen by several early 19th century farmsteads remaining along Bryant, South Street, and Ireland Street, making up around 3% or 678 acres of current land use; of which, 94% or 640 acres is pasture and hay lands (See Land Cover Map 3-3). This percentage does not include agricultural activity like timber harvests and maple sugaring which would fall under the forested land cover data.

In addition to the present-day historical town center, from the 1850s to the turn of the century, there was a period of development of craft villages at Bisbee Mills and West Chesterfield as seen by houses from that era that are still intact, including notable early industrial sawmills along Route 143. Timber harvesting continued as an economic activity through the early 20th century in the western hills, and there was dairy farming on the uplands now evident by several abandoned silos (MHC Reconnaissance Survey).

In the past 20 years, development is most evident along the Route 143 axis as there has been gradual suburban expansion on upland vistas, eroding the agricultural landscape. In the 2003 OSRP, agricultural land was said to equal 3,951 acres, almost 20% of the town. The 1971 Massachusetts Land-Use study noted that 655 acres were cropland, and 500 acres were pasture. That leaves almost 2,700 acres of agricultural land that were likely hayfields, timber, or another form of agricultural production. In 2003, 140 of the total acres, or 3.5%, were protected. If so, that would mean since 1971, there has been a 17% decrease in agricultural land.

Therefore, all the agricultural land that was not protected, is now not classified as agricultural land in 2023.

Presently, 680 acres, or 3.4% of the town, remains in agricultural land use with 215 of those acres, or 31.6% protected (See Land Cover Map 3-4). Although agricultural land has diminished in the last 50 years, the building trends do not suggest the town has been under drastic development pressure, as only 28 new single-family homes have been built in the past 10 years (See Development Trends Map 3-4).

Table 3.7 - Land Cover and Acreage Land Cover Type Trees Wetlands Agriculture Shrubland/Grassland Lawns Impervious Water Bodies Bare Land

Source: MassGIS

Number of Acres 18,641 1,075.40 678.3 420.8 386.9 384.8 307.6 26.5

Percentage of Total Acres (19,996) 85% 5% 3% 2% 1.75% 1.75% 1.5% 0.10%

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Single-Family Home Development According to the assessor data use code, 97 tax parcels of vacant land that are within the AR-1 zone fall under developable’ or ‘potentially developable’, totaling 1800 acres, or 9% of the town.

One way the loss of agricultural land and prime soil has happened is through the development of singlefamily homes on a minimum of 2 acre-lots, per the Town’s zoning bylaw. In the past twenty years, singlefamily homes have been developed on 96 parcels, making up 685 acres of total land. Although the total acreage of recently developed lots is relatively small at only 3 percent of the town, the location of those parcels is more telling. Agricultural land is attractive to development because it is usually on relatively flat land that has well-draining soils. For a town that holds agriculture and working lands to a high regard, it has 1,435 acres of what the National Resource and Conservation Service deem prime agricultural soils, or 7 percent of the town. As stated above, just 680 acres of farmland exist in town, making up just three percent of total land cover. Thirteen parcels that contain agricultural land have seen the development of a single-family home in the last 20 years. During the same time frame, nine parcels with both prime soil and agricultural land have seen the same type of development. Monitoring this trend is crucial to enhancing the functioning of ecosystems through soil health, maintaining intact corridors for habitat, and preserving the working character landscapes (See Single Home Development and Agricultural Land Map 3-5).

Infrastructure Like in most small towns, Chesterfield residents primarily use personal vehicles for transportation. The closest public transportation system, the Pioneer Valley Transportation, is a bus stop in Williamsburg which is the last stop on the route, about 6 miles away. The Hilltown Community Development Corporation offers Chesterfield’s elderly community the ‘Hilltown Easy Ride’, which provides rides upon request to shopping areas and appointments. The Hilltown Transportation Committee (HTC) acts as the representative body for transportation issues, services, and advocacy in the area. After conducting a transportation study in 2016, they found that the highest need for the community was more transportation services for the non-driving senior population. This meant increasing the ease of use and availability of bus services so seniors could access shops, medical appointments and social and recreational opportunities. The HTC is also working to promote ridesharing programs and a fixed route service so there is a more reliable system. When rethinking public spaces, Chesterfield’s senior population and their needs, particularly related to accessing transportation in any form, need to be high on the priority list.

“There is no sidewalk along this section of Main Road making it difficult for both childcare staff and families, as well as CDC employees, to get to the building without a car.”

- Walk Audit Report, Walk Boston Route 143 is the major route through and out of town, running east/west. Most roads close to the town center (North Road, South Street), near West Chesterfield (Cummington Road, Ireland Street), and located near other relatively populated areas (East Street, Stage Road, Damon Pond Road) are paved though scenic dirt and gravel roads exist farther away from the town centers. There are no official bike routes but data from Strava, a recreation application on smart phones that tracks users while they use trails, indicates in their heat map that many of the main roads in Chesterfield are also used by cyclists, with a notable pattern of use on trails in the Gilbert A Bliss State Forest south of the Gorge. The intersection of Route 143 and North Road/South St. offers the only sidewalks in town. Installed between 2012 and 2014, the sidewalks were a major addition to connecting pedestrians to buildings in the town center. However, there is still no system for wayfinding to public amenities such as the library, Town Hall, Russell Park, and the post office. From a walk audit conducted for the Council on Aging by Walk Boston, a non-profit organization that advocates for easier and safer walking infrastructure, they noted that “many residents (in Chesterfield) describe walking the common route loop (Main Road to South Street and onto Bryant Road to Bagg Road and back to Main Road) and their desire for more safety features, especially when crossing Main Road. Similarly, Chesterfield hosts the Hilltown’s CDCs offices and Davenport Childcare Center just east of the Town center on Route

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143/Main Road at the bottom of a hill. There is no sidewalk along this section of Main Road making it difficult for both childcare staff and families, as well as CDC employees, to get to the building without a car.

It is also important that accessible and safe walking paths are added within the town center to meet the needs of residents.

Chesterfield does not have a public water supply system or wastewater system, but instead relies on private wells and septic tanks. There are a few public wells under permit from DEP; two on Sugar Hill Road to the west of Scout Pond and one to the east of Scout Pond that provide water to the former Boy Scouts Camp, now Tolgy Wood, a campground and event space. The others are located near town center at the Hilltown CDC, the Chesterfield Congregational Church, the Davenport Building, and the Chesterfield General Store.

The New Hingham Regional Elementary School, also has a public well, used by 151 students and staff. The grouping of wells near the town center and the two on Sugar Hill Road are all within 200 ft of the roadway.

E. COVID-19, the Gorge, and Other Areas of Popular Recreation Interest

Summary: The Chesterfield Gorge, owned and operated by the Trustees of Reservations, is one the most famous and cherished spots in Chesterfield. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gorge received a spike in use. Concerns around the carrying capacity of the Gorge, the health of its ecosystems, and the ability for residents to enjoy it, emerged as use increased during COVID. During the COVID-19 pandemic, use patterns for outdoor activities changed drastically. Around the country, with the economy slowing down, lockdowns in place, and people trying to stay out of enclosed spaces, a great uptick in outdoor spaces was observed by residents. Chesterfield Gorge was already a popular spot during the summer months for swimming, flyfishing, and hiking when it experienced a substantial increase of use during the pandemic. During conversations with Chesterfield residents, it became apparent that there was a perceived overuse of the Gorge, which took the form of overfilled parking, traffic along the road adjacent to the river, lots of trash and erosion along the road and waterway, and difficulty finding places to enjoy the water that weren’t already occupied. Many local residents admitted they stopped going to the Gorge, as well as Indian Hollow and the East Branch Trail during the pandemic for these reasons. The concerns of residents were both aesthetic and ecological: residents were both uncomfortable with the quantity of people present and worried about the environmental impact it may have on the water quality and highly important ecosystems in and around the Gorge. An interview with the Trustees of Reservation revealed that conflicts of this sort emerged throughout the state during and prior to covid. The Trustees rely on committed residents to help maintain a caring culture of upkeeping natural spaces, and town actions such as enforcing parking maximums have helped deter over-use at other sites in Massachusetts. Chesterfield must consider how to curtail overuse of the Gorge and other popular recreational sites, especially if the pattern of increased use continues in the coming summers

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F. Long-Term Development Patterns

Summary: Chesterfield’s low density, low population, and extensive open space is reflected in its zoning bylaws which prioritize low density housing development. However, a possible maximum development build-out shows almost double the number of current structures and creates sprawllike high density development throughout the town. A future increase in development with the existing zoning bylaws would drastically alter the town’s rural character and negatively impact natural areas.

Land Use Controls: Zoning and Subdivision bylaws Chesterfield’s subdivision bylaw/zoning document indicates that 35% of a lot should be shaded by trees. The town has a tree replacement and preservation policy that includes species selection based on non-invasive species, required street tree plantings. Chesterfield’s zoning bylaws indicate three residential districts: Town Center, Residential/Agricultural 1 (AR-1), and Residential/Agricultural 2 (AR-2). Both AR-1 and AR-2 zoning district state that these areas of town are “best suited for low-density”, which makes up 99% of the entire town when not accounting for the permanently protected lands (See Municipal Zoning Districts Map 3-6).

Low-density development is determined by the minimum lot size of 2 acres and frontage requirements of 200 feet for single-family houses. Cluster housing, which would increase density, is permitted on 10 acre or larger lots, and limited to six living units. Chesterfield’s zoning indicates that low-density development exists in order to keep with the town’s character which includes rural lands, low population, and low development.

However, low-density development does not preclude suburban-style development, also known as sprawl, from occurring which may affect Chesterfield’s ecological integrity.

Maximum Build-Out The Town Scale Build Out Map 3-7 shows a build-out analysis of possible maximum development in Chesterfield based on what is currently permitted under existing zoning. This map takes into consideration the 2-acre minimum lot size and the possibility of current lots being subdivided, adding more density of structures to each current lot. There are currently close to 600 total structures among 975 tax parcels. A rough estimate of a maximum build-out scenario would nearly double the number of total structures. While this is possible, it does not consider factors such as wetlands, topography, setbacks, and other restrictions. It shows what could happen, not necessarily what will happen. The purpose of this analysis is to show that the current zoning bylaws do not protect the town’s character or natural environment. It is important to understand the many possibilities that could play out when scenario planning. The implications of the maximum build out scenario affect the economics of the town, its ecology, rural character, and the social-cultural dimensions. In keeping within the scope of the OSRP, the maximum build-out analysis will focus on the implications for open space, recreation, and ecology of Chesterfield.

Chesterfield is prized for its deeply important ecosystems, which are home to a myriad of rare, endangered, and common species of plants and animals. This is shown by the substantial amount of conservation and the many different agencies that have acquired and manage conserved land in the town. Increases in development would invariably press against fragile ecosystems in Chesterfield. Land clearing and road construction provide opportunities for introduced species to spread and increase erosion, degrading habitat quality. More home septic systems could contaminate surface and groundwater resources affecting aquatic life systems. With more people possibly living in Chesterfield, the use of trails and swimming holes in open space areas might increase which could limit the ability for plants and wildlife that rely on these ecosystems to inhabit them undisturbed.

Overuse of open spaces could also lead to substandard recreational experiences. Lastly, such an increase in development would require well drilling, which would put more pressure on the drinking water supplies present in the town. Completing a comprehensive land-use plan would guide Chesterfield on how to plan for future development possibilities including how to reduce the impact of increased development.

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Map 3-1 Map 3-1

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Map 3-2

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING 22

Map 3-3

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING 23

Map 3-4

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Map 3-5

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Map 3-6

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 3: COMMUNITY SETTING 26

Map 3-7

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Map 3-8

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 28

Section 4: Environmental Inventory and Analysis

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Section 4: Environmental Inventory and Analysis A. Geology, Soils, and Topography

Summary: Chesterfield can be generally characterized by smooth ridge tops and gently rolling hills.

More dramatic elevation occurs along the Westfield River, one of the dominant landforms running north/south through the western half of town. The folding, faulting, and uplifting of earth over millions of years formed the present-day foothills of the Berkshire Highlands we call the Hilltowns.

These ancient mountains were then eroded by water, wind, and more shifting of earth until around 10,000 years ago when glaciers covered the land with ice sheets miles high. As the climate warmed, the ice sheets retreated, leaving deposits of glacial till. In Chesterfield, these deposits now host soils that are typically poorly suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture because of large stones left behind close to the topsoil and areas with exposed bedrock. However, a small percentage of soil in town is considered prime agricultural land.

Geology The region is generally underlain by metamorphic rock (See Geology Map 4-1) in the form of different types of schist, gneiss, and quartzite bedrock. More specifically, Devonian schist, micaceous quartzite, quartz schist, calcareous granofels, quartzose marble, granite, and gneiss all are likely in this area. Most of the land in Chesterfield is dominated geologically by a formation, a distinct layer of rock, called the Goshen Formation.

A small part of the Goshen Formation dome, a spherical shaped geological structure, lies to the north and east of Damon Pond. The eastern section of the town is part of the Waits River Formation. Bedrock closely influences the character of a region because it determines what types of soils can develop. Factors like the nutrient make-up and water holding capacity of bedrock material underneath soil directly impact the soil characteristics and vegetation types that communities are then inhabiting, cultivating, maintaining, and managing (USGS, Ecoregions of New England Summary Characteristics).

Topography 350 to 500 million years ago, two mountain-building events, the Taconic and Acadian created the hills present in Chesterfield today. Rocks such as schist, gneiss, and quartzite were folded and shifted. The mountains produced by these events weathered and eroded over the next few million years into low undulating hills.

Continental glaciers made their advances over the land further shaping the ground. The most recent glacial advance, the Wisconsin glacial stage, climaxed about 18,000 years ago and ended about 10,000 years ago. The glaciers scoured the landscape making the valleys deeper and wider, and eroding the bedrock and previous glacial deposits while accumulating materials in the process. As the glaciers retreated, they left deposits covering the land with the parent material of the soils of Chesterfield. The mountain tops were depressed by the weight of the glaciers and were eroded with the water and ice that came along with the retreating of the massive ice sheets. The events that have happened in the past 10,000 years and are slow but ongoing leave Chesterfield with a low point of around 500 feet and high point of around 1700 feet above sea level. The change in elevation from the bordering valley lowlands and the higher Berkshire mountains distinguishes Chesterfield’s micro-climates from towns just mere miles away.

Regional Soils and Slopes Four major soil associations, or pattern of soils, in Chesterfield that were able to develop on top of the bedrock listed above are the Ashfield-Shelburne, the Westminster-Millsite, the Montauk-Paxton-Scituate, and the Lyman-Tunbridge-Peru associations. Most land with these soil associations are forested. These soils are typically poorly suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture because of the stones on the surface and areas exposed to bedrock. The Westminster-Millsite soils are particularly restrictive to development due to

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 30

shallowness to bedrock. Steep slopes and the frequency of large stones are generally seen as limiting factors for building site development and leach field permeability (See Soils Map 4-2 and Slopes Map 4-3).

The Ashfield-Shelburne is the largest association of soils in Chesterfield. It consists of about 60% Ashfield soils, 25% Shelburne soils, and 15% soils of minor extent. Both Ashfield and Shelburne soils formed in deposits of glacial till derived predominantly from schist bedrock. These soils are moderately well drained and medium textured, have friable subsoil, and a firm substratum that restricts root growth. The Shelburne soils, typically found on higher, steeper slopes, are well drained and medium textured. Like the Ashfield, Shelburne soils have friable subsoil and a firm substratum that restricts root growth but also water movement. This association of soils includes some of the deepest soils in Chesterfield.

The Westminster-Millsite soils are found on gentle to very steep hilltops and hillsides in Chesterfield. This soil association consists of about 55% Westminster soils, 25% Millsite soils, and 20% soils of minor extent. The Westminster soils are formed from schist bedrock in thin deposits of glacial till. They tend to be shallow, somewhat excessively drained, and medium textured. They have friable subsoil and are underlain by bedrock at a depth of approximately 16 inches. The Millsite soils are found in less sloping areas or pockets between the Westminster soils and bedrock outcrops where they were formed from schist bedrock in moderately deep deposits of glacial till. These soils are moderately deep, well drained, and medium textured with friable subsoils that are underlain with bedrock at about 26 inches.

The Montauk-Paxton-Scituate soil association is found all along the Westfield River in Chesterfield. This association consists of about 65% Montauk, 20% Paxton, 10% Scituate soils, and 5% soils of minor extent formed in deposits of glacial till. The Montauk soils, found on higher, steeper slopes, are well drained and medium textured with friable subsoil and a firm, coarse textured substratum that restricts water movement and root growth. The Paxton soils, also found on the higher and steeper slopes, are well drained and medium textured and have friable subsoil and a firm substratum that restricts water movement and root growth. The Scituate soils, found in concave areas and on the lower parts of slopes, are moderately well drained and medium-textured and have friable subsoil and a firm substratum that restricts root growth.

The Lyman-Tunbridge-Peru soil association represents a small area in the northwest corner of Chesterfield on gentle to steeply sloping hilltops and hillsides. This association consists of about 45% Lyman, 35% Tunbridge, and 10% Peru soils as well as 10% soils of minor extent. The Lyman soils are typically found on upper steep slopes, are shallow, somewhat excessively drained, and medium textured with friable subsoil underlain by bedrock at about 16 inches. The Tunbridge soils, found in less sloping areas or pockets between Lyman soils and bedrock outcrops, are moderately deep, well drained, and medium textured with friable subsoil underlain with bedrock at about 26 inches. The Peru soils, found in concave areas and on the lower parts of slopes, are very deep, moderately well drained, and medium textured with friable subsoil and a firm substratum that restricts water movement and root growth.

In the past, the steep terrain, shallow soils, and exposed bedrock geology of the town are one reason it may have been slower to develop agriculturally, residentially, and commercially. Lands with less physical restraints are likely to be the first to be developed. Generally, lands that are sloping more than 25% are less likely to be the first to be built upon or made into usable recreation areas, followed by lands with slopes 15-25% due, in part, to the increased difficulty that steep terrain poses to siting homes, driveways, sports fields, trails, and wells (See Slope Map 4-3). Land with Ashfield-Shelburne soils are likely to be the easiest on which to locate these uses, although the land underlain with the shallower Westminster-Millsite soils are just as likely to be developed for homes due to their location on hilltops granting the advantage of views. (See Single Home Development and Agricultural Land Map 3-6 in previous section)

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B. Landscape Character

Summary: The most well-known defining landform is the Chesterfield Gorge, but there are plenty of other features that set this town apart in beauty, ecological significance, and serenity. Hilltop pastures allow for wide open and distant views towards the forested expanse of the mountainous Berkshire Highlands. Cemeteries, stone walls, cellar holes, and historic houses from the colonial era dot the landscape with reminders of the history of European settlement. Trails, ponds, brooks, forests, and the river attract humans, birds, amphibians, and animal alike. Development patterns have followed the east/west nature of the major road and north/south orientation of the valleys.

Even so, the town remains lightly inhabited and since the mass clearing of forests in the 1800s, the forests have largely been left to grow, evoking a wilder, more rural side of the New England landscape. These are some of the main qualities that attracts residents and visitors.

“Hills and open low mountains, gently rounded to steep slopes. Moderate gradient, bedrock, boulder, and cobble-bottomed streams. Some natural lakes and ponds, and a few larger reservoirs.”

- Ecoregions of New England Summary Characteristics Dramatic forested slopes, expanses of diverse wetland habitats, and limited development distinguish the Chesterfield landscape from the nearby foothills of the Connecticut River Valley.

Occasional hilltop pasturelands open distant westerly views towards rolling forested expanses of the Berkshire Highlands.

Two narrow valleys run north to south through the town. The nearly unobstructed Westfield River flows through the western part of town known as West Chesterfield, creating steep terrain on both sides of the river after thousands of years of erosion from rushing water. In some areas, erosion has and continues to carve out bedrock, forming deep canyons such as the Chesterfield Gorge along the river’s edge. The Dead Branch Brook meanders over more gently sloping land on the eastern side of town and supports large tracts of wetlands.

Chesterfield Center is set in the geographic center of the town, on a hill between these two valleys. Several historic town buildings and historic homes, a multi-sport park, and a revamped general store which offers a place to gather, give the town center its charming rural character. Just a few miles west, overlooking the Westfield River, a cluster of historical homes and a mill also give the village of West Chesterfield a historic character. Chesterfield properties designated as National Register properties by the National Park Service are the two National Register Districts, Chesterfield Center and West Chesterfield and three properties that are listed separately, Gate Cemetery, Ireland Street Cemetery and Bisbee Mill.

The remainder of the town is characterized by scenic roads that wind through deep green hemlock forests, crest over ridges, and travel into smaller valleys, which are made even more beautiful by babbling brooks, quiet ponds, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Gradually over the last 250 years, most of the forests were cleared for pasture, but in the last 150 years many of the fields have been abandoned, with the secondary growth of mixed hardwood forests having reclaimed these areas. The approximately 1,800 acres of nonforested land in the form of pastures, hay fields, and water bodies offer scenic views from roads. Most homes are visible from the main roads of Rt. 143, North and South Street, Ireland Street, and Bryant Street but many homes are tucked away in the forest on smaller secondary roads. No matter the homesite, there are bound to be trees, wetlands and fields either on the lot or very close by. With the exception of small clusters of homes

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in the centers of Chesterfield town center and West Chesterfield and smaller clusters like Bisbee Mill, residents are not living within direct view of each other’s houses.

C. Water Resources

Summary: Many of the smaller tributaries in Chesterfield eventually flow into the Westfield River, except for 734 acres in the southwest corner of town that drain into the Connecticut River. The Westfield River cuts through the western portion of town from north to south and borders several unique environments, creating and sustaining habitat for wildlife and supporting recreational uses.

The combination of the Westfield, the Dead Branch Brook, soils that are shallow to bedrock, and forests that are mostly undisturbed allows for this landscape to support a variety of wetland types. To varying degrees, all types of wetlands provide valuable wildlife habitat, filtering pollution in the runoff that enters them and storing floodwater. While 1,075 acres are distinguished as wetlands in the MassGIS DEP wetlands layer, many more are likely to exist that are “isolated” and can be identified by wetland scientists. Since there is no public water system, residents all draw water from private wells except for six public wells supplying larger buildings that are not residences.

Westfield River Approximately ten miles of the Westfield River run north/south through Chesterfield. Due to a large ridge along the eastern border of town, 734 acres of Chesterfield are within the Connecticut River watershed.

However, the numerous streams, brooks, and rivers that are part of the Westfield River watershed eventually make their way to the Connecticut River as they meet the other two forks of the river: the Middle and West Branch of the Westfield.

The Westfield River begins approximately 13 miles northwest of Chesterfield in Savoy, Massachusetts, and flows southeast through the towns of Windsor, Cummington, Chesterfield, and beyond. The river enters at the northern town line bordering Cummington and flows south along the western side of Chesterfield, crossing Route 143 west of Chesterfield’s Town Center. It continues through the southwestern boundary into Huntington, where it eventually merges with the other two forks and drains into Springfield.

Looking north at a wetland in Fisk Meadows off Rt.143 near the intersection of Bisbee Rd. Photo courtesy of Connolly K. 2019

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The Westfield River is the main surface water source that flows through Chesterfield and was the first river to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River in Massachusetts, when in 1993, 43.3 miles were awarded this classification. The river was also protected because of numerous floods in the 1950s which led to the construction of the Knightville Dam. A “National Wild and Scenic River” is defined as a river that must be free flowing in a natural condition, and possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish, wildlife, historic, or cultural features” (Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee). In 2004, the Wild & Scenic designation nearly doubled when 34.8 miles of the river were added to this stretch. It now includes corridors that stretch for 78.1 miles along the East Branch, Middle Branch, and West Branch. The corridor width is 200 feet wide from mean high water on either side of the river, corresponding to the width of the regulated area of the Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act.

Westfield River at the Gorge looking south

Designated segments include: • 5 miles of the headwater streams of the East Branch including Drowned Land, Center and Windsor Jambs Brooks (Windsor, Savoy) • 28 miles of the East Branch (Savoy, Windsor, Cummington, Chesterfield, Huntington) • 13 miles of the Middle Branch (Worthington, Middlefield, Chester, Huntington) • 0.4 miles of Glendale Brook (Middlefield) • 14 miles of the headwater streams of the West Branch including Shaker Mill, Depot, Savery, Watson and Center Pond Brooks (Becket, Washington) • 16 miles of the West Branch (Becket, Middlefield, Chester) • 0.8 miles of the Main Stem (Huntington) According to the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee (WSWRC) website, there are two ways a community can obtain this designation for a river. One method is through an Act of Congress while the other is locally led residents rallying around protecting a natural resource. This was the method used for the Westfield River in 1993, 2004, and currently. Under Section 2aii of the Wild and Scenic River Act, communities or states can nominate a river (or parts of a river) to be designated "wild and scenic" by the federal Secretary of Interior (WSWRC). Rivers designated in this manner continue to be administered by the state (sometimes with assistance from local governments), except for any federal lands along the river. If there are federal lands located along the river, the state and federal river-administering agencies may enter into an agreement to outline federal/state management roles and responsibilities and/or provide for management and protection of river values (WSWRC).

As far as the management of this process and the designation of the river goes, the Westfield River Greenway Plan had been the backbone since 1993. It set forth the basic management plan for protecting the river and contained key strategies including how to acquire the Wild and Scenic designation. Now that the designation has been achieved, a new guiding Westfield River Wild & Scenic Stewardship Plan is being developed by an established committee to help inventory and manage the outstanding resources for which the river was given the designation. This committee is an intergovernmental compact represented by the towns of Becket, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Savoy, Washington, Windsor, and

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Worthington, as well as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the National Park Service, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, The Trustees of Reservations and the Westfield River Watershed Association (WSWRC). Representatives are appointed by their local elected officials or appropriate authorities in the organizations they represent (WSWRC). This partnership, along with the precedents for regional collaboration for the river including the 2003 Westfield watershed level OSRP prepared by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, has resulted in a stewardship plan put forth in 2021.

The plan builds on local citizen science initiatives like “Walkin the Watershed” surveys where residents documented problems, assets, and priorities for action along the shoreline. This shows how there is community and regional fervor for keeping the Westfield River in a natural state and maintaining and ideally improving its high-water quality.

Surface Water Several ponds, wetlands, and swampy areas within the town include: • Damon Pond, located off Damon Pond Road at the Goshen and Chesterfield border.

• Scout Pond, located off Main Road to the east of the main entrance of the former Boy Scout camp, now Tolgy Wood, an event space.

• Long Pond, located off South Street and linked with the Dead Branch Brook • Little Galilee Pond, located on the border of South Worthington and Chesterfield.

• Wilder Swamp • Dead Swamp The smaller tributaries into the Westfield include: • Dead Branch Brook • Tower Brook • Whiteside Brook • Baker Brook • Thayer Brook • Page Brook • Roberts Meadow Brook • West Branch Bronson Brook • Rocky Brook • Branch Shop Brook • Holly Brook • Chauncey Brook • West Falls Branch The tributaries that do not flow into the Westfield and are part of the approximately 700 acres within the Connecticut River watershed include: • Blake Brook • Robert Meadow Brook • Meekin Brook Conditions of Surface Water The “list of integrated waters” is the standard dataset for understanding conditions of surface water in the state. Conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Department of Watershed Management, the Watershed Planning Program surveys the state’s lakes, rivers, and streams with an EPAapproved water quality assessment. In the dataset, they categorize levels of for each type of waterbody: 1) Unimpaired and not threatened.

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2) Unimpaired for some uses and not assessed for others.

3) Insufficient information to make assessments 4) Impaired for one or more uses, but not requiring the calculation of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

4A) Impaired for one or more designated uses but does not require the development of a TMDL: TMDL has been completed.

4B) Impaired for one or more designated uses but does not require the development of a TMDL: Other pollution control requirements are reasonably expected to result in the attainment of designated uses.

4C) Impaired for one or more designated uses but does not require the development of a TMDL: Impairment is not caused by a pollutant.

5) Impaired for one or more uses and requiring a restorative “action” plan, such as a TMDL or Alternative Restoration Plan (impairment due to pollutant(s) such as nutrients, metals, pesticides, solids, and pathogens).

Waters listed in Category 5 constitute a more rigorous public review, comment process, and completion of an action plan or TMDL. MassDEP then develops a pollutant limit designed to restore the health of the impaired waterbody by limiting the maximum load, or the Total Maximum Daily Load. In this action plan for restoration, identifying the cause (type of pollutant) and source (where the pollutant comes from), determining how much of the pollutant is from direct discharges (point sources) or indirect discharges (nonpoint sources), determining the maximum amount of the pollutant that can be discharged to a specific waterbody and still meet water quality standards, and developing a plan to meet that goal are all addressed.

Upon implementation, TMDLs can restore water quality and enable waters to attain their designated uses (MassDEP).

In Chesterfield, this dataset has assessed Damon Pond, Scout Pond, Meekin Brook, Tower Brook, Roberts Meadow Brook, West Branch Falls, Dead Branch Brook, and the Westfield River. The Meekin Brook, Tower Brook, and Roberts Meadow Brook all have their headwaters in or near the Chesterfield town boundary and were classified as category 1, meaning they are not impaired and not threatened sections of each respective water source. Damon and Scout Pond were category 3, meaning they did not have enough information on them to make a classification. The Westfield River, the Dead Branch Brook, and the West Branch, which connects with the Westfield near the Chesterfield Gorge, all were category 5, meaning they are impaired and require an action plan. This is surprising given the important habitat these waters provide, such as cold water fisheries, forest core, aquatic core, and so. The likely contributor to this designation apart from septic leakages and runoff would be the impairment of the river at Kingsville dam, at the southern boundary of Chesterfield.

Recreation and Access to Water Resources Aside from valuable habitat and scenic beauty, the areas listed above also support recreational uses, although the degree of access and allowable uses differs. The Westfield River is one of the larger recreational water resources in town and provides fishing, canoeing, swimming, hiking, bird watching, sightseeing, horseback riding, biking, skiing, and hunting. The river flows through the Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest, Chesterfield Gorge, ‘The Bend’, Indian Hollow, as well as other public and private areas where the riverfront is accessible for these recreational opportunities. Dead Branch Brook at Fisk Meadows and many other brooks are used for canoeing, hunting, fishing, and bird watching due to the varied ecosystems present. Beavers frequently dam many of these brooks, which provide a wet, swampy habitat supporting waterfowl and fur-bearing animals.

According to the Director of Ecological Services at Land Stewardship, Inc. areas that are conserved primarily for wildlife habitat could see a decrease in habitat quality and disruption to hunters if they are frequently used for other forms of recreation. Some recreation uses are more compatible with limiting this effect than others.

For instance, mountain biking is more abrasive to the landscape and deters wildlife more than kayaking.

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Lastly, a pattern was observed at the community meeting when residents were asked to mark their favorite place to recreate: most places identified also contained a body of water. Attached to these priorities were calls for more amenities near water access points for hikers, paddlers, fisherfolk, and more established parking spots and signs were also brought up at each of the two meetings.

Wetlands Wetlands occur along many of the brooks, streams, and rivers throughout Chesterfield. Along with supporting recreation they provide viable habitat including nesting, food, and water, for a variety of species.

In addition, wetlands can filter pollutants from waters that enter them by trapping sediment and through uptake by plants. Within a 100-foot buffer zone beyond the wetland edge, development is regulated and requires an Order of Conditions from the Conservation Commission according to the provisions of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA). The objective of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, as amended by the 1996 Rivers Protection Act, is to preserve the quality of water, maintain quality and quantity of drinking water, provide recharge through infiltration of water into the ground, retain the natural flood storage capacity, sustain fisheries, and protect wildlife habitat.

Wetlands regulated under the Wetlands Protection Act are typically identified in the field by soil scientists or wetland experts through recognition of wetland vegetation and soil types. Wetlands not shown on databases like the MassGIS DEP wetlands layer may be under protection from development by the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and are identified on a site-by-site basis. Residents unsure of whether there is a wetland on their site can contact the Chesterfield Conservation Commission.

Wetlands not associated with brooks or rivers are called “isolated wetlands.” Vernal pools are examples of these, and fill with water only during the wet seasons, providing habitat for salamanders, frogs, and other threatened species. Some vernal pools are protected under the WPA. Drinking Water Each resident receives drinking water through private wells, which are ultimately dependent on ground water within the two watersheds. In the past a small freshwater spring located on North Road provided residents with a place to fill up buckets and jugs of water, but it was removed from the town. There are no designated aquifer recharge areas or surface water reservoirs that the town relies on for water supply. However, there is a water supply protection area in the southeastern part of town, within the Connecticut River watershed, for the Town of Northampton. There are two aquifers in Chesterfield, both along route 143, near Curtis and Bisbee Rd, and both below wetlands. Chesterfield’s drinking water comes from ground water, which is replenished by rain. The water infiltrates into the fractured bedrock, which initially relies on dense vegetation to slow the speed of water during heavy rains and properly infiltrate it into the soil. Wetlands and open spaces are vital to having a healthy quantity and quality of drinking water. For these reasons, Chesterfield’s water supply could be at increased danger during droughts.

D. Vegetation

Summary: Eighty-five percent of the land in Chesterfield is covered by forest, much of which is contiguous. It is a town with rich vegetated ecosystems that provide valuable wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, climate change mitigation, and economic resources. Chesterfield is composed primarily of second and third growth, and northern hardwood and floodplain forests, that contain wetlands and vernal pools. Open pasture and grasslands also provide valuable habitat.

BioMap3 shows that Chesterfield has unprotected open space lands in ecologically sensitive vegetated areas. Possible development in these areas would affect the ecological integrity and connectivity of Chesterfield’s natural lands.

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Regional Ecosystem Factors like soils, bedrock, slope, and elevation place Chesterfield and the other surrounding Hilltowns in an eco-region known as the “Berkshire Transition,” implying the change from the valley ecosystem of the Connecticut River Valley to more mountainous terrain in the Berkshire Highlands. This region shares some characteristics with both the valley and highlands and contains a wide variety of micro-climates, as there is significant fluctuation in temperature and precipitation patterns as the landscape changes in elevation.

Generally, the forest type in this region is a transitional hardwood forest with patches of northern hardwoods at higher elevations (Mass Audubon). Natural communities like hemlock-white pine forests are typically found on dry to mesic soil on mostly north facing slopes and ravines. Red oak-sugar maple transition forest also can occur on mesic mild slopes that, in some cases, contain other species like northern red oak, sugar maple beech, black birch, and a possibility of white pine and hemlock. Some ridgetop pitch pine-scrub oak woodland with pitch pine, northern red oak, black oak, and scarlet oak can also be characteristic of this ecoregion. On stream slopes and terraces, species like red maple, silver maple, American elm, basswood, sugar maple, shagbark hickory, and black cherry could find suitable habitat (USGS Ecoregions of New England Summary Characteristics) (See Ecoregion Map 4-6).

Chesterfield’s Forests Like much of western Massachusetts, the vast acreages of forest paint the landscape of Chesterfield.

Primarily second- and third growth, the main forest type is northern hardwood forest. Also known as “transition forest” eastern hemlock is the dominant canopy tree, followed by yellow birch, sugar maple, American beech, white pine, red oak, ash, gray birch, paper birch, pin cherry, balsam poplar, American mountain ash, and mountain maple. The understory consists primarily of striped maple, hobblebush, nannyberry, and mountain laurel. Spring wildflowers such as trillium, ladyslipper, cowslip, meadowsweet, and various ferns carpet the forest floor. Smith Pyramid and Chesterfield Gorge are popular places to explore this type of forest. Page Brook, located where Dead Swamp runs into Dead Branch, has a transition forest of hemlock, yellow birch, and maple along its stream banks, with marsh marigolds, white hellebore, Canada yew, mountain laurel, and ferns along its edge. The other significant forest type present is the floodplain forest, which occurs where forty or more square miles of watershed drain into the lower reaches of a river. These are one of the more-rare natural communities and can be found along the Westfield River. The state-protected Gilbert Bliss State Forest includes the largest section of floodplain forest in Chesterfield. Here cottonwood and silver maple can be found in abundance, along with river birch, sycamore, box elder, black willow, and American elm. An herbaceous layer of herbs, ferns, and nettles, such as wood nettle, ostrich fern, sensitive fern, and false nettle are found here as well.

Agricultural Land Chesterfield’s agricultural lands include pastures, cropland, hay fields, sugar bushes, and orchards. While these types of landscapes provide limited plant diversity, they do provide habitat for wildlife and have scenic, cultural, and economic significance. Western Massachusetts is one of the top producers of maple sugaring in the state, with Chesterfield proudly contributing. Working lands are a part of the legacy of Chesterfield’s agricultural landscape history. Even with the relatively rare occurrence of prime agricultural soils throughout the town and soils with exposed bedrock or stoney surfaces, agricultural work still has a strong presence in Chesterfield. Chesterfield is a right-to farm town, and many residents also have their own gardens.

Unfortunately, agricultural lands in Chesterfield are prime sites for development. According to the Massachusetts land-use study in 1971, Chesterfield had 1,165 acres of agricultural land. In 1999, there were 1,032 acres, almost a 13 percent decrease in land since 1971. Today, the town has 680 acres of farmland, an 83 percent decrease from the reported number in the 2003 OSRP. This is due in part to development and to the increase in cover of second-growth of forests on abandoned fields. Map 3-6 shows that within the last 20 years, sixty total acres of agricultural land with prime soils have seen single family home development. It is important to note that developed agricultural lands rarely revert back to agriculture (Nickerson and Borchers).

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The drastic decline of agricultural lands in Chesterfield supports the need to protect them from development and preserve the remaining lands though active management.

Chesterfield’s vegetated landscapes provide ample opportunities for passive recreation. Residents hike, bike, ski, and do other recreational activities in the town’s forested areas.

Wetlands and Vernal Pools Chesterfield has hundreds of acres of wetlands including vernal pools, swamps, and bogs. These unique water saturated habitats, and their surrounding natural landscapes, are important to maintaining vegetative biodiversity because there are many diverse hydrophilic plants that are adapted to living in wet conditions.

Chesterfield’s Fisk Meadow contains a wetlands complex that is surrounded by wetland adapted plants such wild raisin, red maple, and almost an acre of great rhododendron, a rare native plant. Wetlands and the habitats they create are protected by the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act which is enforced through the local Conservation Commission in Chesterfield. Protecting wetland areas in Chesterfield ensures the longterm conservation of these plants and more.

Rare Plant Species Chesterfield contains seven rare plant species that are endangered, threatened, or of special concern according to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (Table 4.2). While the majority of the rare plant species in Chesterfield have been observed within the last twenty years, one species, the spurred gentian, was last observed in 1984. Plants that have been delisted from the 2003 OSRP list of rare plants in Chesterfield include the pale green orchid (Platanthera flava variety herbiola), winged monkey flower (Mimulus alatus), and the green dragon (Arisaema dracontium). These plants may have become delisted for reasons including extinction, population recovery, or an update of information. By analyzing BioMap data it is evident that 28% or 5,535 acres of land in Chesterfield is core BioMap habitat which are high quality ecological areas that support the continued long-term survival of rare plant and animal species. The Protected and Unprotected BioMap3 Elements Map 4-7 highlights areas where BioMap mapped core habitat is not permanently protected. Undoubtedly, there are still important ecosystems in Chesterfield that are not permanently protected from development, putting rare plant species at risk. Furthermore, minimizing human disturbance in those areas is also important for protecting rare plant species.

Table 4.2 - Rare Plant Species as of 2023

Table 4.1 - Acreage of BioMap 3 Local and Core Habitats Core Habitats

Acres

Wetlands

895.6

Aquatic

5,552

Forest

12,700

Source: Total MassGIS

19,148

Local Elements

Acres

Wetlands

266.6

Landscape Blocks

1335.8

Vernal Pools

757.7

Aquatic

434.5

Total

2794.6

Common Name

Scientific Name

Taxonomic Group

MESA* Status

Most Recent Obs.

Barren Strawberry

Geum fragarioides

Vascular Plant

Special Concern

2021

Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe

Arceuthobium pusillum

Vascular Plant

Special Concern

2020

Great Laurel

Rhododendron maximum

Vascular Plant

Threatened

2003

Hairy Wild Rye

Elymus villosus

Vascular Plant

Endangered

2016

Muskflower

Mimulus moschatus

Vascular Plant

Threatened

2020

Pale Green Orchid

Platanthera flava var. herbiola

Vascular Plant

Threatened

2020

Spurred Gentian

Halenia deflexa

Vascular Plant

Endangered

1984

Source: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act Note: This is an updated list which does not include delisted species from the 2003 OSRP

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Species Spotlight: Spurred Gentian Spurred Gentian (Halenia deflexa) can be found in wet or wetland areas such as along semi-shaded rocky river shores, moist cool woods, bogs, and swamps. This herbaceous annual wildflower blooms in mid-July to August. Its green and purple hued flowers appear in clusters at the top of the plant. The flowers have distinct tubular spurs or pointed tips extending down from the petals, giving it the appearance of a rocket ship. Spurred gentians are threatened by heavy recreational use along its habitat and competition from introduced plants. This species has not been observed in Chesterfield since the 1980s, which may be a result of habitat loss.

E. Fisheries and Wildlife

Summary: Chesterfield’s forests, meadows, agricultural lands, wetlands, vernal pools, rivers, and streams support a diversity of common and rare New England wildlife species. The abundance of wildlife provides Chesterfield residents and visitors with recreational opportunities through hunting, fishing, birdwatching and wildlife viewing, and photography. BioMap3 shows that Chesterfield has unprotected open space lands in ecologically sensitive habitats. Possible development in these areas would affect the ecological integrity and connectivity of these habitats that sustain healthy wildlife populations.

Wildlife and Habitats Chesterfield contains wide-ranging habitats of forests, meadows, croplands, wetlands, vernal pools, rivers, and streams. 13,257 acres or 66.3 % of the town land area are mapped as part of BioMap Critical Natural Landscape meaning that they are within large contiguous landscape areas. These extensive tracts of undeveloped areas, have the ability to support large wildlife populations, provide secure homes for animals such as gray squirrel, deer, grey and red fox, ruffed grouse, woodcock, hawks, owls, white hare, cotton-tail rabbit, bobcat, black bear, coyote, raccoon, skunk, weasel, native waterfowl, trout, salmon, mink, otter, beaver, muskrat, fisher, and moose. Some of the animals noticed by residents in Chesterfield on iNaturalist, an app and database which allows users to identify and record observations of animals and plants, include brown trout, rainbow trout, eastern phoebe, common water snake, North American River otter, and sandhill cranes (iNaturalist).

Chesterfield’s existing permanently protected open space provides high-quality intact habitat for wildlife.

MassWildlife owns and manages hundreds of acres of wildlife management areas (WMAS) in Chesterfield where animals can find shelter, forage, and breed. These areas include Oak Hill WMA, Ram Hill WMA, Fisk Meadows WMA, Brewer Brook WMA, and Hiram H. Fox WMA. MassWildlife lands are open to the public for wildlife related recreation such as fishing and hunting. On an annual basis MassWildlife stocks the Westfield River with trout.

Rare Wildlife Species Chesterfield contains six rare wildlife species that are endangered, threatened, or of special concern according to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (Table 4.3). While the majority of the rare wildlife species in Chesterfield have been observed within the last twenty years, the Sedge Wren was last observed in 1934. Wildlife species that have been delisted from the 2003 OSRP list of rare wildlife in Chesterfield include the shortnose sturgeon (Acipinser brevirostrum), bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus), spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) and the four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium

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scutatum). These species may have become delisted for reasons including extinction, population recovery, or an update of information. 5,535 acres or 28% of land in Chesterfield is “BioMap” core habitat, a significant designation which “identifies areas critical for the long-term persistence of rare species, exemplary natural communities, and resilient ecosystem” (BioMap3). Protected and Unprotected BioMap3 Elements Map 4-7 highlights areas where BioMap mapped core habitat is not permanently protected. Permanently protecting BioMap core habitat is crucial to sustaining the wildlife biodiversity in Chesterfeild and the region.

Furthermore, minimizing human disturbance in those areas is also important for protecting rare wildlife species.

Table 4.3 - Rare Wildlife Species as of 2023 Common Name

Scientific Name

Taxonomic Group

MESA* Status

Lake Chub

Couesius plumbeus

Fish

Endangered

Most Recent Obs. 2016

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Bird

Endangered

2013

Ocellated Darner

Boyeria grafiana

Dragonfly/Damselfly

Special Concern

2003

Riffle Snaketail

Ophiogomphus carolus

Dragonfly/Damselfly

Threatened

2018

Sedge Wren

Cistothorus platensis

Bird

Endangered

1934

Wood Turtle

Glyptemys insculpta

Reptile

Special Concern

2021

Source: *Massachusetts Endangered Species Act Note: This is an updated list which does not include delisted species from the 2003 OSRP

Species Spotlight: Golden-winged Warbler A bold pattern of yellow, white, and black patches makes the golden-winged warbler stand out amongst the crowd.

However, catching sight of this bird is becoming increasingly rare as populations have drastically declined. In spring, when these endangered warblers migrate north for breeding, they can often be found in open shrubby, grassy, and young forest habitats, like abandoned farms or utility rights-of-way. After their young have fledged, golden-winged warblers will forage and live in mature forests. Their acrobatic foraging behavior includes hanging upside down and leaping on twigs to find insects. Formed in 2003, the Golden-winged Warbler Working Group pursues collaborative conservation projects to conserve and manage the species.

Wildlife Corridor Habitat

“A wildlife corridor is designed to keep an open pathway for animals to travel from one place to another as safely as possible—both for them and their human neighbors. It’s not defined by a fence or closures. It might look like a stretch of public land and maybe one or two private lands” Jodi Hilty, President and chief scientist of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative The Westfield River and its adjacent riparian zone support many wildlife species and is an important contiguous block of mostly protected land. This corridor helps wildlife and plant species migrate large distances that may otherwise be separated by human barriers. The river is a high-quality Coldwater Fish Resource (CFR) that can support many cold-water fish like the native brook trout. Chesterfield residents and

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visitors alike enjoy fishing in the river. As an ecotone, where freshwater habitat meets terrestrial habitat, the Westfield River has a high level of biodiversity, making it an important resource to protect. Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest is the largest section of the contiguous north-south stretch of forests surrounding the Westfield River also acts and is mapped as forest core habitat by BioMap (see map 4-9). The wildlife corridor habitat in Chesterfield connects to larger migration routes within the region. Ensuring wildlife connectivity at the regional scale requires that Chesterfield continues protecting it wildlife corridor habitat.

Wetland Habitat Chesterfield has 895.6 acres of wetlands which provide habitat for a plethora of wildlife species including freshwater clams, mussels, beavers, muskrat, frogs, fish, and birds. Fisk Meadows has extensive wetlands that are home to game birds such as pheasants, wild turkeys, quails, and ruffed grouses. Acting as ecosystem engineers, beavers, at Fisk Meadows, often change the waterways, creating flooded areas that provide many ecosystem benefits. Wetlands and the habitats they create are protected by the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act which is enforced through the local Conservation Commission in Chesterfield. Protecting wetland areas in Chesterfield ensures the long-term conservation of these plants and more.

Vernal Pool Habitat Vernal pools can be found throughout Chesterfield. Chesterfield has 13 Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHSEP) recognized certified vernal pools, 37 potential vernal pools, and 3 mapped BioMap vernal pool cores which are groups of ecologically important pools within intact upland habitat.

Because vernal pools do not contain predatory fish, many wildlife species (especially amphibians) exclusively depend on them, particularly for their reproductive cycle. As an important habitat for wildlife, it is imperative for vernal pools to be certified so that the animal habitat they provide are protected.

Early Successional Habitats A diversity of wildlife live, forage, and breed in early successional habitats like fields, meadows, and abandoned fields. Many bird species, including bluebirds, meadowlarks, woodcocks, sandhill cranes, and golden-winged warblers love these habitats. Additionally, early successional habitats are great for pollinator species. New England has experienced a loss of these types of habitats due to development and natural succession to mature forests. If Chesterfield wants to maintain populations of animals that prefer these habitats, the town must protect them.

F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments

Summary: Chesterfield’s distinctive rural character offers steep valleys with climbing woods, farm fields, historic mill sites and houses built between 1700-1900 still standing in town. From cold water fishing spots and sunny swimming holes, to trails along the steep hills and scenic roads, the numerous unique environments in Chesterfield provide core wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and cultural significance to the town. The level of protection for these areas varies, leaving some spectacular natural features and habitats susceptible to development or mismanagement.

Natural Resources In 1982, Chesterfield was identified in the first state-wide survey of scenic and historic landscapes completed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management. The inventory included distinct landscape features and unique environments like the Westfield River that runs north to south through the town and offers numerous scenic views and unique recreational opportunities for both residents and visitors. Managed, owned, and protected permanently by the Trustees of Reservation, Chesterfield Gorge Reservation, a natural chasm carved out by the Westfield River, is one of the more popular attractions, displaying tumbling water and granite cliffs topped with hemlock forest. Trout fishing is popular at the base of the gorge, due to the annual spring stocking of brown and rainbow trout. Indian Hollow, another permanently protected area along the southern end of the Westfield River in Chesterfield, is prime habitat for a rare species of butterfly. The

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15-acre flat landscape, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, also provides areas for camping within the Indian Hollow Campground on the east side of the Westfield River. Abutting the river, Indian Hollow provides access points to canoe a six-and-a-half-mile route from West Chesterfield to the campground. The Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest, which is protected permanently and located in the northern part of Chesterfield along the Westfield River provides hiking trails, scenic views, and viable habitat for wildlife. It is also home to the ‘Pork Barrel’, which is an area of the Westfield River with deep pools for the native trout. The Bend, a swimming hole in the Westfield River, is not formally protected but is privately owned and managed by a group of residents called the Chesterfield Bend Conservation Trust, has an access off Ireland Street. At this point the river makes a bend, due to the confinement of a large granite wall on its east side. A deep pool has formed on this sharp bend and is large enough for swimming. With the addition of sand every spring, a beach area has been constructed on the water’s edge for relaxing and canoe access to the river. Picnic tables, firepits, trash barrels, and an open field west of the picnic area also border ‘The Bend’.

Unique environments away from the river are abundant and provide recreation and scenic interests as well.

Fisk Meadows, a permanently protected area in the central part of Chesterfield, is a marshy, wet area off the Dead Branch Brook. It is the habitat for an array of wildlife including waterfowl, black ducks, mallards, wood ducks, muskrats, beavers, pickerel, bass, bullheads, as well as other birds of prey and fur-bearing animals.

Long Pond, most of which is permanently conserved, is a nine-acre natural pond within the Dead Branch Brook. About 30 acres of dense sedge and wetland shrubs surround the pond making it inaccessible to hikers and nature enthusiasts. However, it provides ample habitat for many wetland species. Damon Pond is a 75acre constructed pond in the northeast portion of town that is privately owned and not protected with many shoreline cottages for vacationers and residents. It is within easy biking or walking distance of the town center however no safe sidewalks or biking lanes exist. This area is only available to members of the Damon Pond Corporation. Membership provides access to swimming, fishing, canoeing, and scenic views. The pond holds varied habitat for wildlife. Located near Route 143 and dominated by Hemlocks, the brook waterfall area can be approached along a rough access pathway from Goose Lane to the Rocky Brook Bridge, and finally downstream along the Rocky Brook area. The main attraction is the 25-foot waterfall that pours into an eightfoot-deep pool. Krug sugarbush, which borders the east side of Long Pond, has been converted from a sugaring operation into permanently conserved land under the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

The agricultural land along Ireland Street, only a small portion of which is protected, has spectacular scenic views of bordering hills and forests. Smith Pyramid, enrolled in Chapter 61B, is a unique landform that is 400 feet tall with 40% slopes giving it a pyramidal shape. At the peak, scenic views extend through the tree limbs from a relatively flat ridge about 200 feet long by 40 feet wide. Kidd’s Lookout, a high hill in the eastern part of town, is frequently hiked for the clear views to the Connecticut River.

These unique natural resources provide Chesterfield with scenic views, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat. Through protecting these areas, future Chesterfield residents, humans, wildlife, and plants alike, may be able to enjoy the benefits they provide.

Cultural Resources Old stone walls, small cemeteries from the 18th century, remnants of stone mills, old house foundations in the woods, and open hilltops and fields of pasture with distant views are some of the cultural features that residents hold dear. Many of those panoramic views can be seen from Ireland Street, Bryant Street, Route 143, River Road, North Road, South Street, Kidd’s Lookout, and Indian Hollow just to name a few. Various historical houses, villages, and buildings are unique features of this town. The first meeting house site, Damon Pond Mill, Burnell Mill, The High Bridge, and the site of Clapp Tavern are all important to the town’s history.

Center Cemetery, Ireland Street Cemetery, the Mount Cemetery, the Gate Cemetery, and Bofat Cemetery were established as early as 1764 and record the town’s history on gravestones. Although some of these cemeteries are Town owned, none of them are listed in the MassGIS open space layer as under any type of protection. A preservation step for these cemeteries not currently in the national historic status would be to

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register them as a National Historic site, which opens funding for maintenance of gravestones and rebuilding of stone walls. For this, the Town’s Historical Commission and the Historical Society would act as stewards in protecting open space. Natural resources and the numerous unique environments they make up in Chesterfield are central to conservation efforts, but the historic and cultural aspects of the town are also important for preserving the town’s character.

According to a member of the Chesterfield Historical Commission, municipal properties which contribute to a national district are eligible for matching grants that help fund preservation work. These improvements would have to receive Massachusetts Historical Commission approval for the scope of work and materials.

Private properties within the districts have no restrictions, but if a district contains businesses that are restored following historical guidelines, they may be eligible for tax credits. Once a district is listed on the National Register, a town may vote to designate it as a Local Historic District. A new committee is appointed to oversee this local district and may recommend putting in place restrictions such as paint color or propose regulations such as a demolition delay by-law.

Chesterfield has two Historic Districts: Chesterfield Center Historic District and West Chesterfield Historic District. There are two cemeteries listed as historic sites: Center Cemetery and Ireland Street Cemetery.

Preservation restrictions were placed on these two properties because Chesterfield received approximately $120,000 in grants from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for gravestone conservation, the rebuilding of parts of the east wall and a holding tomb in Center Cemetery. An additional $12,500 in grants were received for rebuilding the stone walls at Ireland Street Cemetery.

Going forward, all Town projects that involve any expenditure of state or federal money are supposed to be reviewed by the Chesterfield Historical Commission. The Commission then submits comments on the project to the appropriate state or federal authority. This process is why the sidewalks in the Town Center are concrete and why they connect to elements the Commission thought important, like the post office and community center. (See Historical and Cultural Features Map 4-11)

G. Environmental Challenges

Summary: Fortunately, Chesterfield has no 21E sites, otherwise known as brownfields which are environmentally contaminated areas. The Westfield River was historically known for its flash flooding, but flooding of the river has not been an issue for Chesterfield residents since most of the land surrounding it is permanently protected open space. The high percentage of forest cover helps infiltrate water and protects soils from flooding in Chesterfield and the Hilltowns at large. In the 2020 Northern Hilltowns Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness plan (MVP) problematic culverts were identified in Chesterfield, many of which were due to beaver activity. Currently, the Town is working towards a new phase of MVP planning focused more specifically on issues within town boundaries. Erosion is not especially common, but beaver dams have occasionally caused dirt roads to wash out. While beavers can cause issues, they are also, like us, keystone species that add to our ecosystems. There are culvert practices that can be installed to prevent the unwanted industriousness of the beaver.

Hazardous Waste On a watershed-wide scale, there are no reported hazardous waste sites upstream from Chesterfield in the Westfield or Connecticut River watersheds. There are no reported hazardous waste sites (21E sites) within Chesterfield. However, the only known landfill in town, located on Willcutt Road, was capped 30 years ago and now functions as the site for the town’s transfer station. This landfill-turned-transfer-station could be defined as a brownfield if it was the recipient of household waste, which it most certainly was. The waste is now presumably taken out of town. The town is registered to handle hazardous waste and maintains gas pumps at the Highway waste to service municipal vehicles. There is now some movement to replace

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 44

underground tanks with above ground storage due to these issues. In 2003, it was estimated that between 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of gasoline and 6,000 gallons of diesel go through these pumps on an annual basis.

Small local businesses and farmers in town also store gasoline on their land to run equipment. Leaking from unused vehicles can also pose a problem. Illegal dumping, reported as an occasional issue in the 2003 OSRP is still a behavior worth attention as it has the potential to decrease the overall water quality in Chesterfield, affect the recreational and wildlife value in the area, and contribute negatively to the entire Westfield River watershed.

Flooding Flooding along the Westfield River was historically a problem in Chesterfield. Over the years floods have destroyed several of the mills along the river. Now that most of the land along the river is protected and undeveloped, flooding has less potential to damage structures and is, therefore, less of a concern for the town. It is important to note that the health of the town’s numerous wetlands, brooks, streams, and floodplains are essential for flood protection. The 2020 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness plan listed three culverts as ‘current problem culverts’ (3; p.8). Two are in West Chesterfield, the other along Willcutt rd. in the northern part of town. Nine culverts identified as “problematic due to beaver activity.” These are located on Willcutt Road Main Road, South Street, Bryant Street, and Ireland Street. Another four culverts were identified as undersized and causing flooding during heavy rains (on Ireland Street and Bissell Road) or extreme events (on Cummington Road)” (Hilltown MVP 2020). Fixing these problematic culverts and following the MVP would be a great step towards bolstering the town’s ability to withstand the great precipitation levels predicted by the 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment for the Northeast.

Erosion and Sedimentation Erosion does occur in Chesterfield, but not often. The Highway Department has reported slight erosion on East Street near the Westhampton town boundary line where rainstorms have washed out the road in the recent past. Beavers are believed to have caused this flooding by clogging up culverts (MVP 2020). Where erosion occurs in Chesterfield sedimentation in the water could potentially harm wildlife habitats by clogging water ways and increasing nutrient loads. Land stripping, the result of logging and building construction along brooks, streams, and wetlands, could also release large amounts of sedimentation that alter water patterns.

Removing vegetation along the edges of water bodies increases erosion and sedimentation; this can adversely affect plant and animal species. The wooly adelgid’s effects on the hemlocks may also lead to increased erosion, but thoughtful consideration should be used when determining the fate of still healthy eastern hemlock stands, as they comprise a large percentage of cover along waterways. Erosion can be controlled through preventing development in ecologically sensitive and steep areas, as well as planting multilayered vegetation (herbaceous, shrubby, and trees) along edges where erosion may occur.

Ground and Surface Water Pollution In 2003, contributors to groundwater pollution in Chesterfield were often septic systems. In 2003 occurrences had traditionally been most frequent around the Damon Pond area, where summer homes began being used as year-round residences. No reports of septic failures were reported during the 2023 OSRP process.

Increased development may also add nutrient loads to water systems, especially in areas with shallow bedrock, high water tables, and soil conditions poor for septic leeching. De-icing Chesterfield’s roads with salt and sand could create problems for surface and ground water. All paved roads in Chesterfield are treated in the winter with a 10:1 sand to salt mix, while dirt roads receive sand alone. As the trend continues for more roads to get paved in the town, the effects of salt on natural resources should be considered. In the spring as snow melts and salt seeps into the soil, it pollutes the water and associated ecological systems adjacent to the road and may make some private wells unusable.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 45

Other pollutants that indirectly reach Chesterfield’s water resources are more difficult to identify. Accidental leaching from vehicle fluid leakage and unreported hazardous waste dumping can contaminate groundwater and release toxic materials into the soil. Agricultural run-off from fertilizers, pesticides, and manure from livestock wastes could be a concern for Chesterfield and should be monitored. Human waste from swimming areas could also be an issue, but in 2019 Scout Pond and Damon Pond both tested negative for E. Coli (mass.gov 2019).

H. Climate Change

Summary: In 2020, Chesterfield, Goshen, Worthington, and Cummington, in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC 2020), created a joint Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan to increase their ability to prepare for and mitigate climate change stressors. The plan listed four major areas for concern: 1) rising average & extreme temperatures; 2) increase in high intensity, short duration precipitation; 3) increase in frequency of extreme weather events; and 4) increase in consecutive dry days (PVPC). Projections for the impacts of climate change include increased winter precipitation and radical and fast-paced change in tree canopy density and species composition. Areas like Chesterfield are also at increased risk of erosion and temperature increases.

Development can introduce aggressive, non-native species by fragmenting plant communities by creating vulnerable openings in plant communities. Combining this issue with increased heat will threaten natural and social ecosystem’s carrying capacities and biodiversity.

“…local land-use decisions influence the extent to which forests and open space help offset greenhouse gas emissions and buffer communities from climate change impacts that are already occurring.”

- Harvard Forest Report, 2014 Climate change is threatening New England’s forest canopy. The increased temperatures not only adversely affect those tree species at their southernmost ranges, but also help facilitate the spread of parasitic and nonnative aggressive species such as bittersweet, barberry, knotweed, and different types of buckthorns, as well as invasive pests such as emerald ash borers (Science Daily 2018), woolly adelgid (Carry Institute 2022), and blister rust (Frontiers In Forests and Global Change 2022), to name a few. The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), ash (Fraxinus sp.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and white pine (Pinus strobus), are species that make up large portions of intact forest and are also threatened by climate change through increased temperatures and/or parasitic and invasive species.

For Chesterfield, an upland region with slopes and large swathes of intact forest, the reduction of hemlocks from woolly adelgid insects will take a significant toll on the current ecosystem. Hemlocks are the region’s greatest shade tree, providing cover from snow in the winter for deer while also creating deep shade during summer heat. Multitudes of wildlife species depend on hemlocks: porcupine, yellow-belly sapsuckers, red squirrels, and deer, to name a few. Hemlock forests are often home to black bears, bobcats, foxes, fishers, and ruffed grouse, as well as a myriad of other rare to common birds. With the onset of the woolly adelgid insect, which feeds off hemlocks and is killing them at a rapid pace, New England forests rich in hemlock can expect to receive heightened levels of direct sun on forest floors as these coniferous trees die. Direct sun on once moist and shady microclimates will dry out these soils, increase erosion, and increase water temperatures in cold water streams and brooks (National Park Service). Cold water species, such as trout, as well as amphibians that use the water bodies in Chesterfield are adversely affected by increasing water temperatures.

The loss of trees such as hemlock will have immediate and cascading effects for Chesterfield and the regional ecosystems.

Increased precipitation, especially during winter, is another climate change consequence projected to occur in New England. Increased precipitation during winter can increase erosion because the herbaceous vegetative layer is dormant and therefore infiltrating less water than in the warmer months. With heightened temperatures, precipitation may take the form of rain even during winter, which would result in higher

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 46

volume water events that leave less water flow available during hotter months, as well as increase water speeds, resulting in more erosion. Increased rain and the loss of major species that provide shade and habitat such as hemlock compound concerns around erosion and habitat destruction in Chesterfield. Additionally, snowpack on mountains usually melts slowly throughout the spring, keeping rivers running. Recent droughts, however, have occurred: in 2022, periods of concerning low water were observed at the Gorge in early summer. These extended droughts threaten habitat, recreation, and the groundwater levels that feed private wells.

Development patterns, while not usually connected to climate change, ought to be. An uptick in rural development, especially in areas that are more buffered from severe elements such as hurricanes and forest fires (such as non-coastal portions of New England) may be spurred by climate change. Climate migrants may choose to relocate to areas perceived as safer and more stable in the long-term. Rising waters, increased storms, fires, air quality, and nearness to nature may spur development in areas like Chesterfield that are rural yet near metropolitan areas. Such forms of migration and subsequent development are at least in part galvanized by climatic shifts. Increased development pressures on already disrupted ecosystems may fragment and weaken them further, threatening the stability of systems we rely on. Chesterfield should prepare to meet these varied impacts of climate change by considering the ecological and social world residents want to live in, and then taking the necessary steps to realize that vision.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 47

Map 4-1

DED DED

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 48

Map 4-2

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 49

Map 4-3

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 50

Map 4-4

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 51

Map 4-5

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 52

Map 4-6

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 53

Map 4-7

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 54

Map 4-8 4-7

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 55

Map 4-9

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 56

Map 4-10

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 57

Map 4-11

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 58

Table 4.4 - Cemeteries

Table 4.5 - Mill Sites

Letter A B C D E F G H I J

Letter A B C D E F G H I J K L M N

Name Center Cemetery* Bofat Cemetery Damon Cemetery Ireland Street Cemetery* Gate Cemetery Mount Cemetery Torrey Cemetery Robinson Cemetery Damon-Bates Cemetery Witherell Cemetery

* Registered as historic site.

O

Location Burnell Saw Mill Bisbee Mills Littlefield Mills Shattuck Mills Healy Mills Baker Saw Mill Damon Saw Mill Taylor Mills Witherell Mills Wright Saw Mill Damon Saw Mill 2 Bisbee Saw Mill 2 Burr Tannery Litchfield-Moore Foundry Keith Saw Mill

Table 4.6 - Historic Houses Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24

Location Luce House Rhoades House King House L. Damon House Benjamin Pierce Tavern E. King House Warner-Edwards House Gates House M. Bryant House Bancroft House Starkweather House Uknown First Congregational Church Town Hall J. Healy House A. Todd House Cole Tavern Clark House S. Rhoades House Wilcutt House P. Bryant house Buck House Witherell House C. Damon House Macomber House

Year 1765 1791 1800 1797 1800 1760 1794 1873 1860 1822 unknown 1835 1845 1800 1800 unknown 1822 1768 1772 1850 1800 1770 1760 1780 1800

Year 1760 1761* 1777 unknown 1839 1848 1866 1800 unknown 1777 1810 1825 1846 unkown

* Registered as historic site.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY 59

Section 5: Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 60

Section 5: Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest A. Introduction

The previous sections of this document highlighted some of the characteristics of Chesterfield that are valued by its residents. Including its forests, streams, wildlife, historical and natural elements, and its people. This helps inform the long-term planning of a sustainable community by showing what is critical for functioning ecosystems and what contributes to the health and wellness of the residents. This section investigates the existing conditions of Chesterfield’s protected open space. Showing what, how, for what purpose, and by whom simplifies an otherwise complex mosaic of protection and dynamics. These are invaluable data points to begin understanding how land ownership is distributed, how resources are used, and how land is managed.

Open space is a general term used mostly to describe undeveloped land but is more specifically defined as “conservation land, forested land, recreation land, agricultural land, parks, green buffers, undeveloped land with conservation or recreation interest, and vacant lots and brownfields that can be redeveloped into recreation areas” by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. In Chesterfield, these spaces take the form of large tracts of forests, densely vegetated and open wetlands, highquality water bodies, agricultural land, trails and recreational fields. The landscape of Chesterfield mirrors the communities’ values and sense of place within the greater region. The way land is prioritized, protected, and managed is a glimpse into the rural identity of the town. One way to think about open space is conserved land. Another is through recreational amenities like Russell Memorial Park that has ball fields, open fields, courts, and a skatepark.

Just over 14,100 acres of the 19,996 acres, or around 70%, of Chesterfield is under some level of protection.

Of the 14,107 acres, 8,024 are protected in perpetuity, representing 40% of the total land in Chesterfield.

Although this number can be perceived as large for such a small town, it is not an outlier in the region. It is tied for second amongst the neighboring towns of Williamsburg, Westhampton, Cummington, Worthington, Goshen, Middlefield, and Huntington (Table 5.1).

Table 5.1 - Comparing Percent of Permanent Open Space to Neighboring Towns Town Percent of permanently protected land

Middlefield 48%

Huntington 40%

Chesterfield 40%

Worthington 38%

Town (cont.)

Percent of permanently protected land

Cummington 30%

Williamsburg 28%

Goshen 27%

Westhampton 25%

Source: MassGIS

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 61

Table 5.2 - Summary of Protected Open Space in Chesterfield

Permanently protected lands include the subcategories of private, public, or non-profit owned. This information can also be found on Map 5-2 and Map 5-4 at the end of the section.

Acres

Percent of Land in Chesterfield (19,996 acres)

Owned by Commonwealth of Massachusetts

5,943

29.60%

Owned by Federal Government

291

1.45%

Total Publicly Owned

6,234

31.05%

With Conservation Restrictions (CR)

1,107

5.53%

With Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR)

432

2.16%

Total Privately Owned

1,539

7.69%

Owned by Land Trusts

251

1.25%

Total Non-Profit Owned

251

1.25%

TOTAL PERMENENTLY PROTECTED LAND

8,024

40.10%

Chapter 61 Forest Land

3798

19%

Chapter 61A Agriculture

983

4.90%

Chapter 61B Recreational Land

1302

6.50%

TOTAL TEMPORARILY PROTECTED LAND

6083

30.4%

TOTAL OPEN SPACE WITH SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION

14,107

70.50%

Level of Protection Permanently Protected Publicly Owned Land

Permanently Protected Privately Owned Land

Permanently Protected Non-Profit Owned Land

Temporarily Protected Privately Owned Land

Source: MassGIS Open Space Layer 2023, and information from Town of Chesterfield Assessor, 2023

B. Private Parcels

1,539 acres of privately owned land, or 7.7% of land in Chesterfield, is protected permanently from development.

Private lands with Conservation Restriction Properties that are privately owned but are protected in perpetuity can have a CR, or conservation restriction, attached to the deed of the property. This type of conservation is a voluntary agreement in which a landowner limits development of their property while retaining private ownership of the land. The limitations are agreed upon by the landowner and the organization/non-profit entity (usually a land trust or municipal conservation commission) and are designed accordingly to the site’s ecological resources. The CR is a legal document that restricts current uses but also future uses of the land, as it stays with the land even if it is bought and sold. The recipient (organization or non-profit) accepts the restriction with the legal responsibility to enforce the terms of the restriction in perpetuity. After the restriction is signed, it is recorded with the town hall and all future owners of the land are bound by the terms of the restriction

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 62

(Levite). Deciding whether to conserve property is an individual decision based on a myriad of factors, and since property and homeownership is a main contributor to one’s economic standing, societal structural elements like race, class, and education are at play.

Some of the reasons private landowners might grant a conservation restriction on their land is because they want to protect its natural and scenic features, while limiting development, but also because it helps retain ownership of the land and helps keep it in their family for future generations. Financial incentives include federal income and estate tax benefits, as well as local real estate tax benefits that vary from town to town.

Additionally, based on an assessment of the value of the land, the Internal Revenue Service allows a federal income tax deduction if the restriction is perpetual, donated “exclusively for conservation purposes”, granted to a qualified conservation organization (or proper government entity) and supported by a “qualified appraisal” (Levite).

The terms of every restriction vary from site to site, depending upon the goals of the landowner (grantor) and the conservation entity (grantee). In some instances, no development other than the existing structure is allowed on the land. In other cases, a limited amount of additional development is allowed. In other words, every restriction is unique, tailored to a particular landowner’s goals and their land. Conservation restrictions do not always encompass a parcel entirely. Even though they have granted a restriction, the landowner still owns the property and is able to sell, give, or lease the property as they did prior. Elements like public access are part of the negotiation process between the entities. Public access is not automatically part of the restriction and in most cases is not, unless the original landowner who grants the restriction specifically allows such access. (Levite) Private lands with Agricultural Preservation Restriction According to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program is a voluntary program that offers farmers who are faced with a decision regarding the future use of their farms a non-development alternative. The program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the "fair market value" and the "agricultural value" of their farmland in exchange for a permanent deed restriction which protects the farmland for future agricultural use (Mass DAR). According to the 2003 OSRP, there were 3,951 acres of all types of agricultural land presumably including working woodlands. The OSRP claimed only 140 acres at the time were protected through the APR program. In 2023, according to land use/land cover data, there is a total of 680 acres of agricultural land, of which, 215 acres are under APR. The permanent protection of agricultural land is a vital component to preserving the working lands of Chesterfield. In addition to offering unique habitat to insects, birds, and other animals, these lands help evoke the pastoral setting which the community identifies with and cherishes.

The Bend The Bend, a swimming hole in the Westfield River owned by the Chesterfield Bend Conservation Trust, has access off Ireland Street. At this point the river makes a sharp bend, due to the confinement of a large granite wall on its east side. A deep pool has formed on this sharp bend and is large enough for swimming. With the addition of sand every spring, a beach area has been constructed on the water’s edge for relaxing and canoe access to the river. Picnic tables, fire-pits, trash barrels, and an open field west of the picnic area also border ‘The Bend’ and provide entertainment and recreation opportunities.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 63

Table 5.3 – Privately-owned Parcels of Forestland Permanently Protected through a Conservation Restriction (CR) Map/Parcel ID

Present Holder of Rights

Total Parcel Acres

50_4_0

Kestrel Land Trust

150.2

30_3_0

DCR - Division of State Parks and Recreation

208.6

40_5_0

Kestrel Land Trust

41.4

27_14_0

Department of Fish and Game

1.3

27_14_0

Department of Fish and Game

2.7

46_70_0

Town of Chesterfield Conservation Commission

6.2

19C_21_0

DCR - Division of State Parks and Recreation

2.4

19C_21_0

DCR - Division of State Parks and Recreation

8.9

19C_21_0

DCR - Division of State Parks and Recreation

76.5

27_14_0

Department of Fish and Game

151.2

41_1_0

Department of Fish and Game

34.9

27_9_0

DCR - Division of State Parks and Recreation

230.2

8_11_0

Hilltown Land Trust

42.9

29_8_0

Hilltown Land Trust

14.6

29_11_0

Hilltown Land Trust

47.8

29_14_0

Hilltown Land Trust

53

41_1_0

Hilltown Land Trust

6.5

44_19_0

Hilltown Land Trust

27.4

Source: MassGIS

Table 5.4 – Privately-owned parcels of Agricultural Land Permanently Protected through an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Map/Parcel ID

Present Holder of Rights

Total Parcel Acres

31_4_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

44.1

31_16_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

19.5

31_16_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

66.4

31_16_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

109.8

48_1_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

53.6

37_1_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

1.4

37_1_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

136.2

37_1_0

Department of Agricultural Resources

0.48

Source: MassGIS

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 64

C. Working Chapter Lands

Chapter Lands in Chesterfield are undeveloped open space lands maintained for timber production (Chapter 61), agriculture (Chapter 61A), or recreation (Chapter 61B). This designation helps land provide benefits to the public such as wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, farm-based economics, sustaining rural character and help clean water. Landowners are incentivized by receiving a lower local property tax rate for their properties if enrolled in a Chapter program. Chapter Lands make up 30.4% of total land in Chesterfield. The temporary protection status of these lands means that they cannot be developed while the landowner is enrolled in the Chapter program. However, they can be developed if the landowner chooses to sell. The Town of Chesterfield has the “Right of First Refusal” or the opportunity to match an outside offer to purchase Chapter Lands if they are up for sale. Attributes of a property that might be attractive for the Town to consider using this tool include the presence of prime farmland soils, pasture, wetlands, rare or endangered species habitat, or the parcel’s potential as a link between two other segments of protected land or a trail network. If the land is converted to nonchapter use (commercial, residential, or industrial), the municipality can also purchase the land at full market value. If the Town decides to use the Right of First Refusal tool and buy a parcel for conservation purposes, it can allow former Chapter Lands to become permanently protected following a Town meeting decision. This process can be long and expensive so partnering with conservation organizations, who are able to work at a faster pace and provide finances, can be beneficial to the Town.

Chapter 61 Chapter 61 is a legal tax designation for landowners actively managing forested lands used for growing forest products. This program is intended to preserve Massachusetts’ forests. Landowners must have 10 contiguous acres minimum to qualify for the tax designation. Enrolled participants must complete a 10-year forest management plan that is evaluated by a State Service Forester. Chapter 61 enrollment must be renewed annually by the Town assessor’s office.

Table 5.5 - Chapter 61 Forestlands in Temporary Protection from development through enrollment in land classification and taxation program.

Map/Parcel ID

Acres

Map/Parcel ID (cont.)

Acres

50_6_0

12

28_9_0

169

50_5_0

19.898

25_1_0

224.5

50_3_0

29.052

25B_9_0

63.5

50_4_0

158.5

21_24A_0

4.97

43_16_0

32.5

21_24_0

50

44_19_0

44.995

19C_20_0

69.75

44_22_0

2.3

21_25_0

51.479

42_14_0

16.75

22_18_0

80.767

44_3_0

45.308

22_5A_0

47.943

46_7_0

4.944

19_31_0

84.587

43_3_0

29

20_2_0

51

38_15_0

87.5

15_13_0

19.4

44_1_0

86.5

14_6_0

28

36_26_0

8.363

15A_39_0

28.842

40_5_0

71.706

10_7_0

64.659

40_8_0

15.69

9_11_0

58

29_11_0

13

9_18_0

10.478

58.709

9_3_0

29.3

39_15_0

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 65

53.812

9_4_0

0.731

34_6_0

48.41

7_6_0

43

29_14_0

47.744

9_14_0

10

32_4_0

33.897

10A_1_0

111.4

29_8_0

41.256

5_9_0

34.458

29_8A_0

16

8_11_0

235

29_15_0

12.902

3_6_0

23.375

33_18_0

203.823

6_1_0

139.959

29_2_0

16

3_2_0

21.88

34_2_0

164.5

36_24_0

8.368

32_9_0

10.49

41_1_0

75

31_1_0

27.5

46_1_0

4

30_3_0

201.3

26_25_0

0.079

26_6_0

31.388

18_4_0

25

27_9_0

13.4

27_14_0

226.477

13.804

43_18_0

27.987

32_18_0

23_7_0 28_10_0 Source: MassGIS

2.6

Chapter 61A Chapter 61A is a legal tax designation for landowners that engage in agricultural (including forest management) or horticultural use on their lands. This program is intended to preserve Massachusetts’ farmland and encourage agricultural or horticultural land use. Landowners must be earning sales and actively using their land for agricultural or horticultural purposes for at least two years and have five-acre minimums to qualify for the tax designation. Enrolled participants must complete a 10-year forest management plan that is evaluated by a state service forester. Chapter 61A enrollment must be renewed annually by the Town assessor’s office.

Table 5.6 - Agricultural land with temporary protection from development through enrollment in Chapter 61A land classification and taxation program.

Map/Parcel ID

Acres

Map/Parcel ID (cont.)

Acres

43_14_0

48.5

32A_6_0

18.27

44_18_0

66.797

32A_7_0

6.721

44_17_0

60

26A_14_0

69

38_12_0

4.5

27_5_0

35.5

38_11_0

0.23

19C_21_0

129.65

38_28_0

20.885

19C_3_0

21.873

38_1_0

49.074

19C_2_0

59.068

37_3_0

14.433

7_5_0

125

37_1_0

140

41_7_0

9.19

30_5_0

65.4

27_18_0

13.32

32_30_0

25.531

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 66

Source: MassGIS

Chapter 61B Chapter 61A is a legal tax designation for landowners with at least five acres of natural open space land. This program is intended to preserve Massachusetts’ open spaces, especially for public recreational uses. The program is good for landowners who practice passive land management. Chapter 61B enrollment must be renewed annually by the Town assessor’s office.

Table 5.7 - Recreational land with temporary protection from development through enrollment in Chapter 61B land classification and taxation program.

Map/Parcel ID

Acres

Map/Parcel ID (cont)

Acres

44_25A_0

12.799

14_27_0

12.23

44_29_0

5.005

12_5_0

4

38_18_0

2.121

15_10A_0

4.5

38_17A_0

2.963

18_5_0

52.5

38_27_0

2

12_12_0

16

35_4_0

49.443

15_9A_0

3.905

37_15_0

17.219

15_9_0

15.1

38_5_0

22.076

14_9_0

71.012

37_17_0

5.556

14_7_0

82.5

34_4_0

15

15_4_0

33

25_4_0

12.5

10C_45_0

20.397

27_28_0

27

10C_1_0

50.76

23_8_0

17.76

7_7_0

22.844

18A_5_0

35.4

19_10_0

27.5

15_2_0

69.81

18_20_0

56.5

11_1_0

11

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 67

19_2_0

13.948

7_2_0

220.06

19D_2_0

57.65

3_9_0

65.645

19_5_0

24.66

18A_2_0

1

19_6_0

7.5

13_3_0

17.861

13C_30_0

49.898

37_3B_0

17.219

21_4_0

22.896

35_9_0

23.436

Source: MassGIS

D. Public and Non-Profit Parcels

Permanently protected public and non-profit parcels make up 32.42% of the open space land in Chesterfield.

These open space lands provide a large amount of public recreational opportunities and protect precious ecosystems. The state of Massachusetts is the entity that owns the largest amount of permanently protected land at seventy percent. The federal government and non-profits each own four percent.

Federal Land Chesterfield has 291 acres of federally owned land, a 40 percent increase from 2003.

Silvio O Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge In 2011, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service acquired almost 80 acres of land in Chesterfield to extend the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. This acquisition surrounds part of the Dead Branch Brook in Chesterfield and is home to many endangered species. Because the Dead Branch Brook flows into the Westfield River, the refuge is a part of the Westfield River’s north-south wildlife corridor, helping to sustain habitat connectivity. The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge spans almost 40,000 acres within New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Its purpose is to “conserve, protect and enhance the abundance and diversity of native plant, fish and wildlife species and the ecosystems on which they depend throughout the 7.2-millionacre Connecticut River watershed” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services) Recreational opportunities with the refuge include archery, hiking, fishing, biking, dogsledding, and a lot more.

Indian Hollow Indian Hollow is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and includes 212.8 acres of relatively flat forested landscape, wetlands, and fields along with the Knightville Dam and Reservoir. The area extends into the Town of Huntington and is a part of a flood risk management project focused on preventing floods in communities and preserving the surrounding natural communities. The site is used for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and picnicking. The Knightville Dam and Reservoir is also listed as a Massachusetts Watchable Wildlife area, where visitors can catch sightings of coyotes, beavers, waterfowl, deer, and more.

Table 5.8 - Federally Owned Protected Open Space Parcels Site Name

Manager

Acres Public Access

Purpose for Protection

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 68

Silvio O Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Indian Hollow

United States Fish and Wildlife Army Corps of Engineers

78.2

Yes

Conservation

212.8

Unknown

Other

Source: MassGIS Open Space Layer and information from the Town of Chesterfield Assessor, 2023

State Land Chesterfield has 5,943 acres of land owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a 40 percent increase from 2003. Several State-owned open space areas are Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), which are managed to be intentionally wild. Although open to the public for various recreational uses, these sites usually have limited parking and trails are not always maintained.

Brewer Brook WMA Brewer Brook WMA, managed and owned by MassWildlife, is a part of the Brewer Brook Project, a partnership between State agencies, local conservation groups, municipalities, and landowners that has worked to protect and conserve over 1,000 acres of the intact and unfragmented wildlands and woodlands within the Brewer Brook Forest. Purchased in 2019, this land is critical wildlife habitat and is one of the largest corridors for wildlife migration, connecting many open space lands in Chesterfield and beyond. The Brewer Brook Project lands cover 175 acres in the southwest corner of Chesterfield and extend into the towns of Williamsburg, Westhampton, and Northampton. Recreational opportunities at Brewer Brook include hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Dead Branch State Forest The Dead Branch State Forest is the second largest public open space land in Chesterfield, lying near the southern boundary of the town. The trails are largely unmarked and are not a cohesive system that is easily navigable for hikers. The 681-acre forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and is used by visitors for hiking, fishing, canoeing, and bird watching. It surrounds a part of the Dead Branch Brook and is near Long Pond.

Fisk Meadows WMA The mix of extensive wetlands and northern hardwood forest at Fisk Meadows creates a unique and beautiful landscape that supports a myriad of wildlife species, including waterfowl, beavers, deer, and fish and provides many recreational opportunities. Taking up the center of the 621-acre WMA is the slow-moving Dead Branch Brook. Hunting and fishing opportunities abound in this area.

MassWildlife encourages hunting because of the flooded areas that attract waterfowl. Many people also canoe and hike at the site even though it is difficult to access from the road. Scenic views into Fisk Meadows can be observed from route 143.

The Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest Extending from the northern edge to the southern edge of Chesterfield, the Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest is the largest open space land in the town, spanning 2,045 acres. The contiguous block of heavily forested landscape is set along the scenic Westfield River, attracting visitors for its fishing, canoeing, hiking, bird watching, camping, hunting, and snow-mobiling opportunities. A trail system in the forest also connects to trails within the Towns of Cummington and Huntington, though it is difficult to access from the road and there are private lands to the north that limit the use of these trails.

Hiram H. Fox WMA The rolling hills of Hiram H. Fox WMA, managed by MassWildlife, boast a tremendous variety of habitats including swamps, wetlands, marshes, northern hardwood forests, and agricultural fields.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 69

Moose, ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, black bears, eastern coyotes, and other wildlife species call this 542-acre property home. Visitors can use this site for fishing and hunting.

Krug Sugarbush The 91-acre Krug Sugarbush property not only offers great hiking opportunities through forests and wetlands but also allows visitors with an agricultural permit to tap red and sugar maple trees.

Additionally, during the month of March, DCR sometimes runs on-site maple sugaring demonstrations.

Lilly Pond WMA Lilly Pond sits at the northeast edge of Chesterfield, extending into the Town of Goshen. At a little over 30 acres, the site is one of the smallest public open space lands in Chesterfield. The Lilly Pond area is prized for its high quality “Level Bog” that teems with wildlife and is a Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program priority natural community for protection. Great blue herons have been known to nest on dead snags in the bog and native bog-loving plant species such as pitcher plant, Virginia cottongrass, and round-leaved sundew can be spotted in the area. Several different types of undisturbed natural communities surround Lilly Pond including a spruce-fir forest, and a hemlock-red maple-yellow birch-red oak woods, providing habitat for a variety of species. Visitors can hike along old trails and roads at the site.

Oak Hill Wildlife Management Area One of the defining features of the 730-acre Oak Hill area is its hills and valleys which are covered in mixed hardwood and eastern hemlock forests. Animals such as bobcats, black bear, white-tailed deer, and snowshoe hare can be spotted from the old logging roads in the area. The Westfield River meanders along Oak Hill’s western edge, providing visitors with fishing opportunities.

Ram Hill Wildlife Management Area Located along Route 143 and near the town boundary of Williamsburg is the 548-acre Ram Hill area.

At 1516 feet of elevation, Ram Hill has one of the highest peaks in Chesterfield. Hardwoods and conifer forests dominate the landscape. Like other WMAs, Ram Hill is open to fishing, hunting, trapping, hiking, and wildlife viewing.

Tower Brook Wildlife Management Area Occupying the northwest corner of Chesterfield is Tower Brook, named after the tributary that snakes alongside its eastern boundary. The 515-acre area contains extensive wetlands and the highest concentration of certified vernal pools in the town. Animals residing in the area include bobcats, snowshoe hares, deer, turkeys, ruffed grouse, bears, and sometimes moose. There is also a large population of native brook trout. Like other WMAs, Ram Hill is open to fishing, hunting, trapping, hiking, and wildlife viewing.

Table 5.9 - State Owned Protected Open Space Parcels Site Name

Manager

Acres

Public Access

Purpose for Protection

Brewer Brook WMA

MassWildlife

175

Yes

Conservation

Dead Branch SF

DCR

681

Yes

Recreation/Conservation

Fisk Meadows WMA

MassWildlife

621

Yes

Conservation

Gilbert A. Bliss ST

DCR

2045

Yes

Recreation/Conservation

Hiram H. Fox WMA

MassWildlife

542

Yes

Conservation

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 70

Krug Sugarbush

DCR

64

Yes

Recreation/Conservation

Krug Sugarbush

DCR

27

Yes

Recreation/Conservation

Lilly Pond WMA

MassWildlife

33

Yes

Conservation

Oak Hill WMA

MassWildlife

472

Yes

Conservation

Oak Hill WMA

MassWildlife

258

Yes

Recreation/Conservation

Ram Hill WMA

MassWildlife

548

Yes

Conservation

Tower Brook WMA

MassWildlife

515

Yes

Conservation

Source: MassGIS Open Space Layer, Town of Chesterfield Assessor, 2023

Municipal Land The Town of Chesterfield owns 85 acres of land. None of the parcels are permanently or partially protected.

The distribution of parcels is dense at the town center with municipal buildings like town offices, town hall, and library. While cemeteries, parcels used for storage and utility are distributed sparsely away from the town center in a circular pattern. The largest parcel of town owned land is the New Hingham School.

Table 5.10 – Municipal Owned Parcels Map Parcel ID

Acres

35_7_0

Address 0 INDIAN HOLLOW RD 0 IRELAND ST

35_8_0

0 IRELAND ST

0.21

35_3_0

0 IRELAND ST

0.60

33_19_0

0 EAST ST

1.06

27_19_0

164 MAIN RD

1.97

27_32_0

0 MAIN RD

2.69

25B_5_0

0 SOUTH ST

4.14

25B_8_0

401 MAIN RD

1.17

25B_7_0

403 MAIN RD

0.29

26A_2_0

0 MAIN RD

0.60

19D_16_0

3 NORTH RD

0.51

MUSEUM

19D_15_0

5 NORTH RD

0.13

FIRE STATION

19D_10_0

422 MAIN RD

3.24

GOV. BLDG.

18_31_0

0 IRELAND ST

0.41

19D_34_0

0 MAIN RD

2.28

19D_18_0

6 NORTH RD

12.14

19D_8_0

0 NORTH RD

2.74

19C_5_0

506 MAIN RD

0.23

50_2_0

Public Access

Use

Condition

0.10 0.25

STORAGE/GAR

GOV. BLDG.

RANCH

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 71

18_2_0

0 MAIN RD

0.27

13C_23_0

629 MAIN RD

0.22

LIBRARY

14_29_0

30 SMITH RD

41.41

SCHOOLS

9_8_0

0 WILLCUTT RD

6.30

8_8_0

0 MOUNT RD

1.43

19D_20_0

400 MAIN RD

0.20

42_12_0

0 IRELAND ST

0.05

TOTAL

COMM. CENTER

84.6

Source: MassGIS Open Space Layer, Town of Chesterfield Assessor, 2023

Non-Profit Land Chesterfield has over 200 acres of open space parcels owned and stewarded by non-profit conservation organizations, totaling 1.25% of the town’s land area. The properties are all open to the public. Non-profit landowners include The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental organization and charity that protects natural lands, and The Trustees of Reservation, a local organization that protects land in Massachusetts.

Chesterfield Gorge Reservation, held by the Trustees, is one of the most popular sites in Chesterfield.

Table 5-11: Non-Profit Owned Parcels Manager

Site Name

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy The Trustees of Reservations

Bisbee Road Conservation Area Bisbee Road Conservation Area Bisbee Road Conservation Area Chesterfield Gorge Reservation

Acres

Public Access

Purpose for Protection

25.6

Yes

Conservation

5.1

Yes

Conservation

18.7

Yes

Conservation

200.5

Yes

Conservation

Source: MassGIS Open Space Layer, Town of Chesterfield Assessor, 2023

E. Inventory of Recreation Trails

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 72

Chesterfield residents and visitors enjoy an extensive network of formal and informal hiking trails in both public and some private open space areas. In addition to walking, jogging, hunting, horseback riding, skiing, and cycling along winding forested trails, residents also travel on Chesterfield’s miles of scenic rural roads.

Only some trails have been formally mapped. Notably, the DCR website does not have any trail maps of Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest but does have maps for parks nearby like Savoy State Park. While many of the trails in Wildlife Management Areas are not publicly mapped presumably for conservation reasons, some trails in non-profit areas and throughout town center have been documented. In the future, residents might be interested in more access to trail maps to continue exploring and enjoying all Chesterfield has to offer.

The Four Seasons Club An entity that plays an outsized role in the stewardship of trails and access in Chesterfield is the Four Seasons Club. The club is a business located on River Road, near the Gorge, that maintains trails for recreational activities like: • Snowmobiling • Hunting • Fishing A sign in the woods along a trail indicating stewardship by the Four Season Club. Photo • Camping courtesy of the Four Seasons Club Facebook page.

• Hiking • Cross Country Skiing • Snowshoeing • Swimming • Dog Walking • Horseback Riding • Wildlife Watching • ATV Riding • Volunteer Trail Work • Trail Grooming for ALL user groups.

According to their website, they promote all outdoor activities and work with many different user groups to promote all outdoor adventures and activities. Their main task is to keep the river trail open and safe on a yearlong basis. Given their proximity to the Gorge and the large parking lot for their club house, they help the Gorge and other trails with parking capacity and maintenance.

There is a donation box at their parking lot where users can compensate the club for the upkeep and service of parking adjacent to a 7-mile stretch of trail along the Westfield River.

Chesterfield Walks In 2020 Chesterfield’s Council on Aging, in collaboration with the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, created a “walking” map that inventories accessible and connected sidewalks, streets, and trails with cultural significance. The map brochure includes descriptions of the walking routes as well as their difficulty level. These maps are publicized and available online for Chesterfield residents at https://www.hilltowncdc.org/healthyaging.

Residents can find copies at the Chesterfield Community Center and other municipal locations.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 73

Map 5-1

%

Percentage of Permanently Protected Open Space by Town

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 74

Map 5-2

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 75

Map 5-3

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 76

Map 5-4

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 77

Map 5-5

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 78

Map 5-6

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 5: INVENTORY OF LAND 79

Section 6: Community Vision

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 6: COMMUNITY VISION 80

Section 6: Community Vision A. Description of Process

On January 10, 2023, a core team of Chesterfield residents including members of Conservation Commission, the Finance Committee, the Westfield Wild and Scenic Advisory Committee, and the Council on Aging convened with three graduate students of the Conway School to begin working together on the town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) update. It was agreed that the OSRP process would be as collaborative as possible, providing multiple forms of resident input along each step of the process. Prior to Conway student involvement, the core team of residents developed a highly successful OSRP survey. The survey questions focused on what residents valued about Chesterfield’s open space and recreation opportunities.

The themes and patterns that emerged from this survey were used to formulate the purpose and outline for the first community workshop.

The first community workshop hosted by the core team and lead by the Conway students focused on “where we are” and “where This we’d like to go.” Residents were initially asked what brought flyer was distributed at the dump, post office, and public buildings to encourage them to the meeting to assess what motivated residents to be engaged in the Open Space and Recreation Plan. The Conway students led residents though a series of workshop questions and prompts focusing on what outdoor open space and water recreation areas residents frequented and which areas they have concerns with. The first workshop concluded with a visioning exercise that asked residents to imagine which elements of Chesterfield’s open space and recreation would lead Chesterfield to winning “best place to live in Western Mass in 2030.” The responses to these prompts in their entirety are listed in Appendix B. The observations and themes from the first meeting informed the second meeting, which was framed as “where we want to go” and “how we’d like to get there.” Using the information gathered from the first meeting, the Conway students created draft open space and recreation goals, which were then workshopped in the second community meeting by residents. The second meeting was structured as a listening session. In large groups residents discussed if they agreed with the goals, if anything was missing from the goals, if had any ideas of how to achieve the goals, and, lastly, if they saw obstacles to achieving the goals. The Conway students and core team revised the draft goals and created objectives and recommendations based on the feedback received.

B. Vision Statement

Chesterfield’s beloved rural character and ecological and community resiliency continues to be stewarded through well cared for open spaces where people of all ages and abilities work and play.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 6: COMMUNITY VISION 81

C. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals

The goals in 2023 take into consideration what has and has not been achieved since the last OSRP and build on the 2003 goals. The 2023 goals are: Goal #1 – Encourage the sustainable use, management, and protection of open spaces.

Goal #2 - Maintain and preserve the town’s historical and cultural heritage.

Goal #3 - Enhance and expand recreational amenities and opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.

These goals overlap with the 2003 goals. In 2003 the six goals were: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

Chesterfield’s well-planned growth has protected its open spaces and natural resources.

The quality of ground and surface water is excellent.

The biodiversity of sensitive ecosystems is protected.

Chesterfield’s historic integrity and unique rural character is preserved.

Recreational opportunities exist for residents of all ages and abilities.

Chesterfield residents are more aware of land preservation techniques, including private conservation restrictions.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 6: COMMUNITY VISION 82

Section 7: Analysis of Needs

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 83

Section 7: Analysis of Needs A. Summary of Resource Protection Needs

Summary: Much like in 2003, the existing conditions of town remain similar regarding water resources, critical habitat, wildlife corridors, and prime agricultural soils. While Chesterfield can be commended on having a healthy portion of core and critical habitat in permanent and temporary conservation, there is still critical and core habitat that is susceptible to development due to its unprotected status or temporarily protected status. These unprotected areas include corridors along the east side of the Westfield River and corridors along the Dead Branch Brook. There is a noted tension between conservation agencies’ stewardship priorities and residents’ desires for access to more conserved areas. Areas designated and conserved as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) do not come with parking and marked trails, making them less desirable and more difficult to access, as the goal of the conservation agency is to protect wildlife from human disruptions.

Wildlife and Critical Habitat Chesterfield is home to numerous plant and animal species that reside in ecologically sensitive areas and whose decline is of concern to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For example, the most southern part of town, and practically all stream corridors and a large portion of the forest in Gilbert A Bliss state forest, are designated as core habitats for endangered and threatened species. Chesterfield’s unprotected habitats include uncertified vernal pools and areas estimated to be habitat for state-listed rare and endangered species.

While much of the ecologically important habitats in town are protected, there are still critical and core habitats that are susceptible to development due to their unprotected status and temporarily protected status.

Some of these core and critical habitats are on chapter 61 lands, granting them temporary protection.

Monitoring key parcels for change of use and informing landowners about best conservation practices and methods of protection would help retain the vitality of natural systems. State agencies like Fish and Wildlife preserve lands with the goal of protecting wildlife habitat, and for these reasons do not focus on making their properties accessible. Studies have shown that increased human (and dog) presence negatively impacts the patterns of wildlife in the area (Colorado State University, 2016). During community workshops residents indicated a desire for more access to these areas, citing a lack of parking and blazed trails. Such improvements are unlikely to be made to these sites as their primary purpose is for wildlife.

(See Local Elements Within Chapter 61 Land Map 7-1).

Wildlife Corridors With the exception of the crossing of Route 143, Chesterfield features a largely intact, permanently protected, and forested corridor along the west side of the Westfield River. The east side of this river is nearly completely protected with some privately owned, undeveloped land still lacking permanent protection. There are also large tracts of protected and Chapter 61 Lands along the Dead Branch Brook, which are separated by several roads, residential development, and undeveloped land. “Connector” lands that have yet to be developed, particularly if they hold little natural and legal constraints to development, are most likely to be built upon unless timely protections are initiated. A wildlife corridor across Route 143 would complete the Westfield River corridor. Wildlife corridors should be considered when development, such as the construction of roads, is undertaken. It is important to gauge landowners’ interests in different options for putting their lands into conservation and to identify key parcels to protect. Informational workshops on preservation techniques, contacting land trusts, and neighborly communication are important in approaching this often-sensitive topic.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 84

Maintaining Healthy Water Resources Small towns with less dense development patterns and lower budgets rarely have the capacity, funding or density to install a wastewater treatment facility that connects residential and commercial developments.

Instead, like in Chesterfield, residences and even larger buildings like the school and town hall are connected to buried septic systems. The tanks are dug and placed in soils and slopes that allow for percolation into the ground. If done responsibly and not repeatedly in concentrated zones, this effect on the landscape is diluted.

Conversely, if development and septic installations are not done without thoughtful consideration of the soil, slope, groundwater health, and nearby quality of surface water, water resources can be contaminated and lead to expensive and costly repairs. Maintaining strong local requirements for septic percolation tests to ensure protection of water quality for drinking water as well as for vernal pools, wetlands, and headwater streams is one way a town can help the “clean water” that residents said they valued in the OSRP survey, stay clean. A decrease in water quality of these natural systems can quickly diminish not only their value for biological life but can lead to a domino effect on humans by decreasing the water quality downstream. Building on steep slopes usually leads to degradation of the surrounding soils through grading and subsequent erosion. Erosion can lead to sedimentation in nearby water bodies which in turn leads to degrading water quality. Building restrictions on lands that are steeper than 25% could prevent these impacts. Another potential source of water contamination is the de-icing salt on paved roads that makes its way into surface water. Several major roads are directly adjacent to bodies of water in town.

Working Lands Working lands, also known as chapter lands, range in uses from recreation, to forestry, to agriculture. Overall, these land uses have decreased by 2% since 2003, most of that change occurring from lands listed in the recreational use. Most working lands in Chesterfield fall under forestry. Prime agricultural soils in Chesterfield are a valuable natural resource. Uncommon, especially in hilltown regions, soils that are prime for agriculture are areas for the town to concentrate its effort in saving farms and preventing development that would result in loss of this sparse resource. Once these soils are built upon, they are lost forever. The drastic decline of agricultural lands in Chesterfield supports the need to protect them from development and preserve the remaining lands though active management.

B. Summary of Community Needs

Summary: Maintaining the character of Chesterfield is a primary goal for many residents, much like it was twenty years ago. Maintaining that character involves protecting natural resources and limiting development, while also improving the recreational amenities and appropriate access to them. Residents have expressed in a variety of ways that the hiking trails, waterways, and conserved land are some of the main reasons they love Chesterfield. But unlike in 2003, the perceived conflict between conserving more land and negatively impacting the property tax base has been a concern, which is exacerbated by the drop in state aid by 10% since 1990. Since then, the town has “made up for losses by increasing the local property tax levy by 35.6% in a 29-year period, from $14.74 in 1990 to $19.99 in 2019” (PVPC 2020 Study). However, studies indicate that conserved lands have the greatest revenue to expenses ratio, to name only one of many benefits of open space. While residential land expenses can often outstrip revenues made (while revenue from open space outstrips expenses), this needn’t be the case if residential growth avoids shrinking open space and uses best development practices to reduce costs of services associated with residential development.

Chesterfield is a town of 1,200 residents with an annual budget of $4 million, and like many towns throughout the Commonwealth, is dependent on property taxes to fund town services. While the scope of such an issue cannot be fully resolved within an OSRP, such concerns are relevant when considering decision-making and planning around open space. Some residents in town have raised questions and concerns regarding a perceived conflict between conservation and property taxes. The thought goes that if taxable properties are being conserved, and subsequently taken off the tax rolls or reduced in how much is owed annually, how can the town continue to meet expenses, especially when those expenses continue to rise

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 85

from inflation, insurance, and increased weather events? However, concerning the impact of open space, studies of Massachusetts towns have found that conserving land does not have a negative impact on town revenues:

“the cost of providing municipal services on developed land frequently outstrips any fiscal benefit from new property taxes. A 2019 study of four Massachusetts communities found a higher expense-to-revenue ratio for residential land than for open space. In all four towns, residential land expenses outstripped revenue, but revenue from open space outstripped expenses. Parks and open space also generate economic activity.”

- Murray, Catanzaro 2019, in Sutcliffe et. al. 2021 Land Use Residential $1 Commercial/Industrial $1 Open Space $1

(Source: PVCP)

Ratio of Revenue to Expenses $1.13 $0.56 $0.46

In 2020, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission conducted a study on the implications of the Conte Refuge Plan, a proposal for conserving 150 parcels (3,724 acres) of land in Chesterfield, as well as analyzing the impacts of conservation generally. The study states that there are

“few hard conclusions that can be drawn to connect economic trends since 1990 directly to the doubling of permanently protected land acreage in Chesterfield during this same period. Too many variables are at play to be able to point to direct cause and effect” - PVPC 2020 Most evidence in the study, however, points to a strong correlation between the decrease in the state's municipal financial support and municipal property tax increases during this same period. This state aid went from 19.62% in 1990 to “9.19% of total [town] revenue in 2019”, a 10% drop over 29 years (PVPC 2020 Report). This led to the town making up that loss “by increasing the local property tax levy by 35.6% in a 29year period, from $14.74 in 1990 to $19.99 in 2019” (PVPC 2020 Report). That means over a nearly 30 year period property taxes increased around 1.2% annually, from $14.74 in 1990 to $19.99 per $1,000 of value.

Such an outstanding issue as Chesterfield’s budgetary health deserves increased attention and resident participation. A comprehensive land use plan can work to resolve such issues (through exploring smart growth, encouraging cluster development, and/or infill), but the Open Space and Recreation Plan can also lend support to solving this tension through recommendations that expand open space and conservation without taking properties off tax rolls, such as through conservation restrictions.

Farmland While residents of the town have a strong affinity for farmland and agriculture, very few agricultural lands still exist in town. The old farm fields, however, are still highly cherished as an anchor of rural character and as an ecosystem. Chesterfield’s open fields, its crop and pastureland, are particularly vulnerable to development because they are already cleared while typically being situated in desirable locations such as hilltops and ridgelines. Loss of farmland means the loss of locally raised farm products, and the loss of scenic views across fields and ridgeline panoramas, the loss of the town’s living agricultural heritage, and the loss of habitat for some pollinator species and birds.

Cultural and Historical Heritage Chesterfield has inherited many historical cemeteries, stone walls, mills, cellar holes, and other historic artifacts within its open space landscape. These sites require maintenance and upkeep in order to continue

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 86

being a valued aspect of the town. The community has also expressed an interest in preserving historical Native American sites. Currently, there is limited acknowledgement and preservation of Native American history in Chesterfield. While some of the town’s historic sites are registered as National Historic Sites, many are not yet registered. By registering and actively protecting these sites the rural and quaint character of the town can be preserved.

Greenway Corridors for Passive Recreation Residents repeatedly expressed that they frequently use and would like improvements to hiking and water access areas. These concerns are expressed alongside worries of overuse of such areas and the impact increased use would have on fragile animal and plant communities. Relatedly, tensions arose between hunters and hikers. Hunters expressed consternation over the disruptions to animal behavior that kayaking and hiking caused at certain times of the year. Residents expressed a desire for improved trails generally, and specifically for the trails within the town center to be connected, have signs, and developed with all ages and abilities in mind.

Active Recreation Facilities The Phillip Russell Memorial Park is where tennis, basketball, baseball, a skate park, and playground are all located. Residents would like to see improvements to these Russell Park facilities. They also proposed the addition of pickleball courts (which can be added to existing tennis courts) and an outdoor gathering space such as a pavilion for events. A study on the current use, cost of additions, and possible redesigns would help determine the resources needed and provide opportunities for residents to be involved in the design process.

C. Management Needs, Potential Change of Use

Summary: A more robust set of planning tools ought to be deployed for Chesterfield to manage its future growth. When considering the impacts of broadband and COVID-19 on development patterns, rural America and small towns could see an increase in population and therefore development pressures. Zoning is one major element of planning for the future, and Chesterfield’s current zoning does not adequately regulate and guide development consistent with the expressed interests of residents. Considering the drop in state aid over the last quarter of a century, it’s paramount that small towns band together in advocating for adequate funding needed for sound governance, development, and ecosystem stewardship. Relatedly, the town’s success in planning its future depends on the involvement of its enthusiastic citizens, who are needed to protect the town’s abundant resources and character for future generations of residents and inhabitants of all species.

Comprehensive Planning The long-term development goals of the town of Chesterfield are not delineated, and without that long-term vision tools like zoning are less effective. Developing a land use plan for the town would enable residents to reevaluate how zoning is guiding development and if it helps to protect rural character and natural resources, as well as maintaining dark skies and clean air and water.

Most current development is occurring through the traditional 2-acre single-family residence model. This type of development can fragment open space and wildlife corridors. The Town’s zoning bylaw does include a cluster development and creative development bylaw, which could result in denser development with preserved open space, but these types of projects have yet to be implemented. The town needs to explore the effects of this type of development on the overall pattern of growth in the town. Other tools exist like site plan review procedures which can be used to ensure that development occurs in a pattern that retains the character of the community and allows for the connection of open space parcels. Other mechanisms for responsible development could include elements like scenic byway designations, tree ordinances, zoning bylaws for working lands, and infill development. If this type of development would be beneficial to the town, the town needs to encourage developers to pursue these projects.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 87

Additionally, many landowners would like to protect their land in some way yet lack the information they need to make conservation-oriented decisions. Chesterfield residents would like this information to be more readily available. There is currently a backlog of residents interested in conserving their lands through a conservation restriction. This type of permanent protection is a win-win approach for the Town because it does not remove these properties from the tax rolls, it only reduces the amount owned. This differs from non-profit organizations owning such properties outright, which would place those properties into a taxexempt status.

The town may need to collaborate with other towns to advocate at the state level for the community’s financial needs. Much of the protected open space in town is state owned, and local sentiment is that the Town enjoys little or no financial benefit to compensate for this loss of tax revenue. Because this phenomenon is state-wide, it may be more productive and strategic to advocate as a block of rural towns for financial compensation. Chesterfield and towns like it should be supported as leaders in conservation within the state, which will take advocating on their part. Meeting and developing relationships with land trusts and state agencies to acquire funding to improve signs, create trail maps, and improve public access might help draw the attention of the state and foster further involvement by the Commonwealth in future public open space planning.

Chesterfield is a town of thoughtful, concerned people who love where they live. While resident involvement is imperative if Chesterfield is to reach its goals, maintaining optimal coordination between its boards, committees, and residents continues to be of paramount importance in keeping the community focused on its vision of an attractive and livable town. Chesterfield doesn’t have funding for many of the projects it hopes to undertake, but it may be able to make use of grant programs and other creative methods to realize them.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 88

Map 7-1

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 89

Section 8: Goals and Objectives

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 8: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 90

Section 8: Goals and Objectives

Goal #1 – Encourage the sustainable use, management, and protection of open spaces.

• Maintain an updated inventory of the town’s important ecological assets • Preserve air and water quality • Protect, expand, and restore wildlife habitat • Improve stewardship and management of agricultural and working lands • Build and support a vibrant public education program of Chesterfield’s natural resources that also provides tools for stewardship • Protect night skies Goal #2 - Maintain and preserve the town’s historical and cultural heritage.

• Maintain historical cemeteries, stone walls, mills, and cellar holes within the open space landscape • Identify and protect historical indigenous sites, and other archaeological artifacts • Maintain an updated inventory of historical assets of importance Goal #3 - Enhance and expand recreational amenities and opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.

• •

Improve access and pedestrian connectivity of town-owned lands in the town center

•

Improve access and stewardship of open space lands for recreatio

Develop and support strong relationships with other public and non-profit landowners for land stewardship and access

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Section 9: Seven Year Action Plan

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 92

Section 9: Seven Year Action Plan Summary: The proposed seven-year plan lists specific actions for guiding Chesterfield in future open space and recreation planning. The action steps seek to fulfill the vision, goals, and objectives voiced by town residents. This plan needs to be carefully reviewed and revised where appropriate.

Responsible partners and funding sources need to be identified and time allocated to bring the vision of the plan into being.

Town residents’ vision of Chesterfield’s future includes well cared for open spaces, including the town’s ecologically sensitive areas; agricultural and working lands; historic, scenic, and cultural sites; and recreational spaces where people of all ages and abilities work and play. The vision is partitioned into three primary goals and associated objectives created by town residents and set forth in Section 8.

Informed by resident desires expressed during the two community engagement workshops and the OSRP survey, this section proposes a series of specific action steps to be taken over the next seven years to meet the town’s open space and recreation goals and objectives. While the action steps for each goal are mostly distinct from other goals, there are shared action steps recommended that work toward all the goals. These include convening a committee of resident volunteers to work on implementing each goal, and the creation of a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that plans for development that meets the current and future needs of Chesterfield’s ecological community and residents. Each action step also lists suggested partners and funding sources (see description of funding sources in Appendix D). Action steps are given a recommended time frame and prioritization rank within the seven years beginning in January 2024.

The Action Plan Map graphically highlights areas to focus action step recommendations. The areas do not necessarily encompass particular parcels of land, but act as a magnifying glass for Chesterfield to take a closer look at sites rich in qualities that enhance the town’s character. Areas to focus protection efforts illustrated on the map include unprotected lands with ecologically sensitive natural communities, agricultural lands, or lands with unique, cultural, historical, or scenic interest. The town center is also highlighted for recreational improvements.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 93

GOAL 1: Encourage the sustainable use, management, and protection of open spaces • • • •

Maintain an updated inventory of the town’s important ecological assets Preserve air and water quality Protect, expand, and restore wildlife habitat Improve stewardship and management of agricultural and working lands • Protect night skies

Action Steps Convene an “open space and recreation” committee in partnership with the Recreation Commission to implement actions relation to this OSRP goal Establish a liaison or interest group to build and maintain long term relationships and a healthy communication stream with public management agencies and entities that own permanently protected lands in Wildlife Management Areas, and other ecologically sensitive areas.

Work collaboratively to ensure and implement stewardship of public open space lands.

Work with public open space management agencies to create coherent signage in Wildlife Management Areas, and other ecologically sensitive areas, that encourages environmentally responsible use of the sites. This includes limiting overuse and restricting parking so that plant and wildlife species can exist undisturbed

Explore feasibility of using gates on Town owned roads to limit visitor expansion of parking in public Wildlife Management Areas and other ecologically sensitive lands.

Identify and inventory non-permanently protected wild lands (i.e.; forest, wetlands, meadows, fields) and working (i.e.; pastures, croplands, orchards, hayfields) lands that coincide with ecologically sensitive areas. Prioritize these lands for conservation. Use Map 4-7 for guidance on identifying unprotected lands that should be prioritize for protection.

Develop a series of community engagement workshops for interested landowners whose properties are mapped in ecologically sensitive areas. Provide resources on: • Best management practices for protecting sensitive ecosystems such as Wildlands and Woodlands

Partners • Residents/Volunteers • Westfield Wild and Scenic

Funding Source

• Residents/Volunteers • Public open space management agencies

• Community Preservation Act • Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

• Residents/Volunteers • Public open space management agencies

• Community Preservation Act • Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program • Landscape Partnership Grant Program

Timeline

• Planning Board • Public open space management agencies • Residents/Volunteers • Conservation Commission

• Conservation Commission • Interested (including chapter) landowners

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 94

Priority

• How to permanently protect land from development through Conservation or Agricultural Preservation Restrictions Identify and inventory unprotected working and agricultural lands (i.e.; pastures, croplands, orchards, hayfields) and lands with prime agricultural soils. Prioritize these lands for conservation. Use prime soils and land use land cover datasets for guidance on identifying unprotected lands that should be prioritized for protection.

Develop a series of community engagement workshops for interested landowners with agricultural lands and working chapter lands and lands with prime agricultural soils. Provide resources on: • Best management practices for protecting prime agricultural soils • How to permanently protect land from development through Conservation or Agricultural Preservation Restrictions Conduct an impact study of the carrying capacity of Wildlife Management Areas and other ecologically sensitive public lands. Use the study to inform management of these sites.

Build and support a vibrant public education interpretive program with brochures, workshops, tours, and signage about Chesterfield’s natural resources that: • Educates about the economic, social, and environmental importance of Chesterfield’s ecological assets • Provide tools for resident stewardship of their own properties to promote biodiverse and environmentally responsible gardening/yard maintenance practices • Education about the carrying capacity of ecologically sensitive areas Convene a sub-committee of residents interested in forming a local wildlife advocacy group.

Convene a sub-committee of resident citizen scientists to inventory mapped BioMap local elements and other ecological assets on public lands. Share brochures that present the findings of this inventory in public spaces such as at the library, community center, or town hall. Use Map 4-9 for guidance.

Develop a working group of interested landowners, whose properties are mapped in

• Residents/Volunteers • Conservation Commission

• Conservation Commission • Interested landowners • American Farmlands Trusts

• Residents/Volunteers • Public open space management agencies • Residents/Volunteers • New Hingham Elementary • Council on Aging • Department of Environmental Protection

• Residents/Volunteers • Residents/Volunteers

• Conservation Commission

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 95

ecologically sensitive areas, to discuss and support each other on land management practices.

Consider future acquisition of unprotected open space by the Town when these lands become available for right-of-first-refusal.

• Interested landowners • Planning Board • Conservation Commission

Consider proposing a town-wide vote about the Select Board’s policy on not accepting more Conservation Restrictions Implement updated technologies on public streetlights to reduce light pollution. Create a local bylaw that encourages landowners to update their outdoor lights to reduce light pollution.

Consider developing a comprehensive wetland and vernal pool local bylaw that keeps wetlands protected and healthy.

Use Mass GIS maps to inventory potential vernal pools and then certify them.

Conduct a study on the resilience of Chesterfield’s drinking water supply given predicted climate change impacts.

Identify locations of eroding stream banks and explore funding options for investigating the cause and stabilization of the banks.

• Residents/Volunteers

Convene a sub-committee to support the implementation of the MVP climate change recommendations, including but not limited to addressing: • impaired culverts and bridges • planting new tree species for climate resilience (e.g., replacing hemlocks) Convene a committee of engaged residents and Planning Board members to create a 21st century Comprehensive Land Use Plan that guides development in a way that encourages the sustainable use, management, and protection of

• Conservation Commission

• Community Preservation Act • Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program • Landscape Partnership Grant Program • Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program • Conservation Assistance for Small Communities Grant Program

• Planning Board

• Conservation Commission • Conservation Commission • Conservation Commission • Residents/Volunteers • Conservation Commission

• Residents/Volunteers • Planning Board • Council on Aging

• Conservation Assistance for Small Communities Grant Program

• Conservation Assistance for Small Communities Grant Program

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 96

open spaces and considers future population growth. Within the Land Use Plan consider: • The potential application of “form-based” increased density development zoning in one or more of Chesterfield’s town centers/villages to help ensure that development conforms with the historic character of the town. This may help to mitigate rural sprawl, and its negative ecological impacts by consolidating new development into rural New England style villages.

• Strategies for prioritizing development of elderly housing within new town villages.

• How assessment of historical buildings could inform plans for restoration or demolition.

• The value of shifting in policy from town disposition of land to retention for future uses.

• Convening a committee of representatives from surrounding Hilltowns to advocate for adequate state and federal funding for development and ecosystem stewardship • Where paving of roads is advantageous and where it may not be necessary • The impacts of cell towers on scenic views • Where solar installments are more or less appropriate given scenic natural resources and if a solar bylaw would help support the town’s planning and climate change goals.

• How the town might designate areas for conservation and “receiving areas” where developers can transfer development rights of land in exchange for being allowed creative development permits on other tracts of land.

Goal 2: Maintain and preserve the town’s historic and cultural heritage.

• Maintain historic cemeteries, stone walls, mill sites, cellar holes, bridges, and foundations • Identify and protect historic indigenous sites, and other archaeological artifacts • Maintain an updated inventory of historical assets of importance

Action Steps Convene a “historic landscape preservation committee” in partnership with the Chesterfield Historic Commission, to implement actions related to this OSRP goal.

Partners • Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society

Funding Source

Timeline

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 97

Priority

Create and maintain an inventory of cemeteries, stone walls, mills, cellar holes, bridges, foundations, wells, and other archaeological sites.

Create a sub-committee to conduct an archeological study to identify and inventory indigenous archeological sites in open space lands.

Add these sites to the main inventory.

Research and develop a plan for how to regularly maintain the town’s cemeteries, stone walls, mills, cellar holes, bridges, foundations, wells, and other archaeological sites. Share the plan with private landowners and use it to guide and implement maintenance. Useful Resource: Terra Firma: Putting Historic Landscape Preservation on Soild Ground by DCR. Establish a town liaison or interest group to build and maintain long term relationships and a healthy communication stream with public lands management agencies to ensure clear communication pathways concerning restoration on public open space sites.

Organize volunteers to monitor inventoried public historic sites to keep track of any damage.

Bring Chesterfield’s history to life through developing and implementing signage at historic sites, brochures, and interpretive programs.

• Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society • Local archaeologists • Interested private land owners • Public open space management agencies • Local indigenous communities and scholars • Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society • Local archaeologists • Interested private landowners • Public open space management agencies • Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society

• Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund

• Public open space management agencies

• Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society • Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society

• Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 98

Consider establishing smaller local historic neighborhood districts with high concentrations of historic sites that protect historic structures from development. Municipalities are allowed to do this under Massachusetts General Laws and create their own local bylaw.

Consider designating non-state-owned highways or numbered routes as a scenic road to protect historic sites that are in the road right-of-way.

Municipalities are allowed to do this under Massachusetts General Laws and create their own local bylaw.

Convene a committee of engaged residents and planning board members to create a 21st century Comprehensive Land Use Plan that guides the town on development in a way that ensures the maintenance and preservation of the town’s historic and cultural heritage and takes into account future population growth.

• Residents/Volunteers • Planning Board • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society • Residents/Volunteers • Planning Board • Chesterfield Historic Commission • Chesterfield Historical Society • Residents/Volunteers • Chesterfield Historical Society

GOAL 3: Enhance and expand recreational amenities and opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.

• Improve access and pedestrian connectivity of town-owned lands in the town center • Develop and support strong relationships with other public and non-profit landowners for land stewardship and access • Improve access and stewardship of open space lands for recreation

Action Steps Convene a “open space and recreation” committee in partnership with the Recreation Commission to implement actions related to this OSRP goal

Convene a working group of all ages to study and evaluate the passive and active recreational and conservation potential of Town owned parcels (such as open spaces at or near New Hingham Elementary, 6 North, town offices, Russell Park, and others. This group should consider the best locations for siting certain new amenities. In the working group, consider funding sources (such as charging visitors for parking) for maintaining new amenities.

Consider adding new amenities to the town center such as:

Partners • Residents/Volunteers • Recreation Commission

Funding Source

Timeline

Town Center

• Residents/Volunteers • Recreation Commission • New Hingham Elementary • Council on Aging

• Residents/Volunteers • Recreation Commission

• Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 99

Priority

• Russell Park: walking circuit around the baseball field, a new pavilion, renovating the tennis court for multi-purpose use (i.e.: for pickleball, tennis, basketball), picnic area, public restroom, benches, ADA compliance • New Hingham Elementary: walking trails • 6 North: passive recreation • A community garden • Expanded public parking

• New Hingham Elementary • Council on Aging • Town Highway Dept

Establish a town center greenway with ADA accessible multi-use paths and sidewalks for walking and biking, that connects town amenities such as the library, community center, Town Hall, Russell Park, the post office, New Hingham Elementary School, the General store, and nearby open spaces. Incorporate wayfinding and educational signage throughout the trail. The greenway should include pedestrian and bicycling improvements to Route 143 and consider how to connect to other town villages.

• Residents/Volunteers • Landscape Design Firm • Council on Aging

Establish a liaison or interest group to build and maintain long term relationships and a healthy communication stream with DCR, The Trustees of Reservations, and other management agencies and entities, that own permanently protected lands for recreation, to work collaboratively to improve access and stewardship of public open space lands.

Create a regularly updated inventory of recreational amenities and resources including trail routes, water swimming and boating areas, fishing spots, and areas that are reasonably accessible and have benches and parking. Share brochure of inventory in public spaces such as at the library, community center, or town hall Inventory public open space lands where access should be appropriately expanded and in a way that minimizes ecological impacts. This may include increasing parking, adding signage and benches, and making some existing trails ADA accessible. Work with management agencies to implement those improvements.

Partner with educators to conduct public workshops and tours about the importance of protecting ecologically sensitive areas and

Public Open Space • Residents/Volunteers • Public open space management agencies • Four Seasons Club

• Community Preservation Act • MassTrails Grants • Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for • Communities (PARC) Grant Program • Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program • Community Preservation Act • MassTrails Grants • Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

• Community Preservation Act

• Residents/Volunteers • Recreation Commission • Four Seasons • Council on Aging • Residents/Volunteers • Public open space management agencies

• Community Preservation Act • Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

• Residents/Volunteers • New Hingham Elementary

• Community Preservation Act

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 100

minimizing human impact when recreating in open spaces.

Conduct an impact study of the carrying capacity of the Chesterfield Gorge, the Bend, and other popular public open spaces for recreation. Use the study to inform management of these sites.

Convene committee of interested residents to consider the feasibility of creating a dog park on town owned lands as a place for socializing dogs and humans, and providing an option for dog owners to limit the ecological impacts of dogs elsewhere in town.

Increase signs about hunting season in public open spaces to keep hunters and visitors safe and decrease conflict.

Convene a committee of engaged residents and Planning Board members to create a 21st century Comprehensive Land Use Plan that guides the town on development in a way that ensures longterm recreational amenities and opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities and takes into account future population growth.

• Residents/Volunteers • Public open space management agencies

• Community Preservation Act

• Residents/Volunteer • s

• Residents/Volunteers • Four Seasons • Public open space management agencies • Residents/Volunteers • Planning Board • Council on Aging

• Community Preservation Act

• Rural and SmallTown Development Fund

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 101

Envisioning the Future Working agricultural lands have been permanently protected through conservation restrictions, which safeguard water quality, biodiversity, and town character. Landowners are equipped with resources for best management practices for protecting prime agricultural soils and tools and support for permanently protecting land from development.

Chesterfield’s historical character has been preserved through the upkeep and protection of cemeteries, stone walls, mill sites, cellar holes, foundations, and Native American sites throughout town.

Residents help inventory and monitor these areas.

Recreational amenities throughout the town are enhanced and expanded for residents of all ages and abilities.

A greenway runs through the town center, connecting stores, parks, the school, town buildings, and residential houses. A liaison connects state and federal agencies to the townspeople, ensuring a healthy and convivial relationship to ensure that public open spaces are maintained and improved in ways that enhance these ecosystems and minimize ecologically disruptive impacts. Improvements such as parking and signage are made, where appropriate, to increase access.

A Comprehensive Land Use Plan helps to preserve Chesterfield’s rural character. The plan ensures that future development limits rural sprawl and ecological degradation by following form-based zoning in higher density, New England village-style-clusters that conform to Chesterfield’s historic character.

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 102

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 9: SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN 103

Section 10: Public Comment

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 10: PUBLIC COMMENT 104

Section 10: Public Comment

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 10: PUBLIC COMMENT 105

Section 11: References 1)

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2)

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3)

“Age-Friendly Walking.” WalkBoston.org, walkboston.org/what-we-do/age-friendly-walking/

4)

“Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/agricultural-preservationrestriction-apr-program

5)

“Breeding Bird Atlas 2 Ecoregions.” Mass Audubon, www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/wildliferesearch-conservation/bird-conservation-monitoring/breeding-bird-atlases/bba2/ecoregions

6)

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7) 8)

“Classified Land - Chapters 61, 61A and 61B.” Marshfield MA, https://www.marshfieldma.gov/assessors/pages/classified-land-chapters-61-61a-and-61b

9)

“Communities Working to Conserve Largest Unbroken Forest in the Valley.” Kestrel Land Trust, 29 June 2020, www.kestreltrust.org/brewer-brook-forest-phase-2-video/

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CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 11: REFERENCES 106

18) “Fisk Meadows WMA.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/info-details/fisk-meadows-wma 19) “Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/service-details/food-securityinfrastructure-grant-program 20) “Go Botany: Native Plant Trust.” Go Botany: Native Plant Trust, gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/ 21) “Golden-Winged Warbler Working Group.” Golden-Winged Warbler Working Group, gwwa.org/about/ 22) “Grant Programs Offered by the Division of Conservation Services.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/grantprograms-offered-by-the-division-of-conservation-services 23) “Halenia Deflexa (American Spurred Gentian).” Minnesota Wildflowers, www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/american-spurred-gentian 24) “Healthy Aging.” Hilltown CDC, www.hilltowncdc.org/healthyaging 25) “Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/hemlock-woolly-adelgid.htm 26) “How Is Land in the United States Used? A Focus on Agricultural Land.” USDA ERS - Data Feature: How Is Land Used, www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2012/march/data-feature-how-is-land-used/ 27) “Labor Market Information.” Mass.gov, lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/LargestEmployersArea/LEAResult?A=05&GA=000345 28) “Lilly Pond WMA.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/info-details/lilly-pond-wma 29) “Livablestreets Alliance.” LivableStreets Alliance, www.livablestreets.info/ 30) “Map of AF/DF Communities.” Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, mahealthyagingcollaborative.org/age-friendly/ma/map/ 31) “Maple Syrup Producers.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/service-details/maple-syrup-producers 32) “Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund.” Sec.state.ma.us, www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcmppf/mppfidx.htm 33) “MassGIS Data: MassDEP 2018/2020 Integrated List of Waters (305(b)/303(d)).” www.mass.gov/infodetails/massgis-data-massdep-20182020-integrated-list-of-waters-305b303d 34) “Oak Hill WMA.” Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/info-details/oak-hill-wma 35) “Public Infrastructure in Western Massachusetts: A Critical Need for Regional Investment and Revitalization.”

Mass.gov, www.mass.gov/report/public-infrastructure-in-western-massachusetts-a-critical-need-forregional-investment-and-revitalization 36) “Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.” FWS.gov, 1 Mar. 2023, www.fws.gov/refuge/silvio-oconte 37) “VOREC Steering Committee Recommendations and Action Plan.” Feb. 2018

CHESTERFIELD OSRP SECTION 11: REFERENCES 107

38) “Wild and Scenic Westfield Committee.” Wild & Scenic Westfield River [About Us - FAQs], www.westfieldriverwildscenic.org/faqs.html#Q_1 39) Baker, A. Ruth, History and Genealogy of the Families of Chesterfield, Massachusetts. Northampton, Mass: Mass. Gazette Printing Co., 1962. page 10 40) Census Bureau. Chesterfield Town, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. data.census.gov/profile?g=060XX00US2501513590 41) Chesterfield Four Seasons Club, www.chesterfieldfourseasonsclub.com/about.html 42) Connors, Michael. “Conservation-Minded Resident Steps up to Buy Chesterfield Riverfront Parcel.” Daily Hampshire Gazette, www.gazettenet.com/Chesterfield-auctions-off-land-near-the-Chesterfield-Gorge37303899 43) Dunau, Bera. “Renaissance Role-Players Take over Chesterfield Scout Camp.” Daily Hampshire Gazette , www.gazettenet.com/Boy-Scouts-sell-Chesterfield-Scout-Reservation-19031643 44) Dupigny-Giroux, L.A., E.L., Mecray, M.D. Lemcke-Stampone, G.A. Hodgkins, E.E. Lentz, K.E. Mills, E.D. Lane, R. Miller, D.Y. Hollinger, W.D. Solecki, G.A. Wellenius, P.E. Sheffield, A.B. Macdonald, and C. Caldwell, 2018: Northeast, In Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume 2 [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC USA, pp.669-742. Doi: 107930/NCA4.2018.CH18. https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/northeast 45) Fred Contrada |. “Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildife Refuge Expands with Chesterfield Acquisition.”

Masslive, 1 Dec. 2011, www.masslive.com/news/2011/12/conte_refuge_expands_with_ches.html 46) Garrison, J. Ritchie, page 101. Landscape and Material Life in Franklin County, Massachusetts, 17711860 (University of Tennessee Press, 2003) 47) Golden Winged Warbler - Massachusetts. www.mass.gov/doc/golden-winged-warbler/download 48) Guiden, Mary. “Outdoor Recreation in Protected Areas Negatively Impacts Wildlife.” Colorado State University, 14 Dec. 2016, source.colostate.edu/outdoor-recreation-protected-areas-negatively-impactswildlife/ 49) Higgins, Damon Gladys. Wrote a biography of Bicknell, published in the Hampshire Gazette February 3, 1969 50) Hilltown Community Development. “Summary Report of Hilltown Transportation Study - Massachusetts.”

Mass.gov, Mar. 2016, www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/02/hilltown-transportation-study.pdf 51) Hilltown Families. “Maple Sugar Season Events for 2012.” Hilltown Families, 8 Mar. 2012, hilltownfamilies.org/2012/03/02/hf-387/ 52) Johnson, Jeremy S., and Richard A. Sniezko. “Quantitative Disease Resistance to White Pine Blister Rust at Southwestern White Pine's (Pinus Strobiformis) Northern Range.” Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 11 Oct. 2021, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.765871/full 53) Johnson, Kenneth. “Rural America Lost Population Over the Past Decade for the First Time in History.”

University of New Hampshire Casey School of Public Policy, 22 Feb. 2022, carsey.unh.edu/publication-ruralamerica-lost-population-over-past-decade-for-first-time-in-history

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54) Levite, Robert. “Estate Planning for Landowners: Conservation Restrictions as a Land Protection Tool.”

Masswoods.org, masswoods.org/sites/default/files/pdf-doc-ppt/PYL-Revised-2020.pdf 55) Lovett, Dr. Gary M. “7 Facts about the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.” Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 16 June 2022, www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/feature/7-facts-about-hemlock-woolly-adelgid 56) Marre, Alexander. “Community Scope: Bringing Broadband to Rural America.” Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Dec. 2020 57) Massachusetts Freshwater Beaches [2019]: Water Quality Data for Public and Semi-Public Beaches. www.mass.gov/doc/2019-freshwater-beach-data/download 58) Merritt, Roswell H. Early Chesterfield Industries, in Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Incorporation of Chesterfield, Mass.: 1762-1962 59) Moody, R. George. The South Worthington Parish. 1899-1905 60) Murray, H., Catanzaro, P., Fiscal Impacts of Land Use in Massachusetts: Up-to-Date Cost of Community Services Analyses for 4 Massachusetts Communities (Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 2019) 61) New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Knightville-Dam/ 62) New Hampshire Public Radio | By Sarah Gibson. “UNH Study: Rural America Grew Slightly, Prompted by Migration during the Pandemic.” Vermont Public, 12 Dec. 2022, www.vermontpublic.org/2022-12-12/unhstudy-rural-america-grew-slightly-prompted-by-migration-during-the-pandemic 63) Northern Hilltown Collaborative MVP Summary of Findings, 2020. Draft. https://cummingtonma.gov/PDFs/MVPHilltwnDraft031820.pdf 64) Sec.state.ma.us, www.sec.state.ma.us/ 65) Terra Firma 5 - Mass.gov. www.mass.gov/doc/terra-firma-5/download 66) The Bicentennial Genealogy Committee. 1962. History and Genealogy of the Families of Chesterfield, Massachusetts. 1762- 1962. Northampton, MA 67) The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Jodi Hilty. “How Wildlife Corridors Protect Animals and People.” The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 22 Jan. 2021, www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-andanalysis/articles/2021/01/22/how-wildlife-corridors-protect-animals-and-people 68) Thompson, Jonathan, et al. Changes to the Land: Four Scenarios for the Future of the Massachusetts Landscape. Harvard Forest 2014 69) Tooher & Barone, LLP. “Staying Connected in the Northeast.” Tooher & Barone, LLP, 27 Jan. 2020, www.tabllp.com/news/staying-connected-in-the-northeast/ 70) Tumber, Catherine. “Western Mass. 'Hilltowns' Look for a Foothold.” CommonWealth Magazine, 30 Sept.

2019, commonwealthmagazine.org/arts-and-culture/western-mass-hilltowns-look-for-a-foothold/

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71) University of Waterloo. "Climate change broadens threat of emerald ash borer." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 May 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180517113751.htm 72) Vespa, Jonathan. “The U.S. Joins Other Countries with Large Aging Populations.” Census.gov, 9 Oct. 2021, www.census.gov/library/stories/2018/03/graying-america.html 73) Vock, Daniel C. “Climate Migrants Are on the Move.” American Planning Association, American Planning Association, 1 Jan. 2021, www.planning.org/planning/2021/winter/climate-migrants-are-on-the-move/ 74) Volenec Z.M., Abraham J.O., Becker A.D., Dobson A.P.. Public parks and the pandemic: How park usage has been affected by COVID-19 policies. PLoS One. 2021 May 19;16(5):e0251799. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251799. PMID: 34010353; PMCID: PMC8133454 75) Western Mass Hilltown Hikers. westernmasshilltownhikers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ChesterfieldHiram-H.-Fox-Wildlife-Management-Area.pdf 76) Westfield River Wild and Scenic Advisory Committee. “Walkin’ The Watershed: East Branch .” 2007

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Appendix A (2022 OSRP Community Survey Results)

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Appendix B (2023 Community Workshop Agendas) 1st Community Engagement Workshop Agenda Chesterfield Open Space and Recreation Plan February 4, 2023 10:45 - 11:15

WELCOME

10:45 - 11:10 (15 min)

Sign-in: Core team and Conway team will invite folks in, ask them to fill in the sign-in sheet and take a name tag to write their name, point out where the snacks are, direct people to sit at the tables with folks that do not know, and tell people that they will receive more information about what to do at their table.

10:45 - 11:10 (15 min)

Welcome Activity: Table facilitators (core team) and Conway team will assist folks at each table in introducing themselves and ask them to take a sticky note to write down 1. What brings you to the meeting? and 2. What do you love and value about Chesterfield?

11:10 - 11:15 (5 min)

Share-out: Report-outs from each table

11:15 - 11:30

INTRODUCTION

11:15 - 11:20 (5 min)

Core team briefly introduces the project and the Conway team

11:20 - 11:30 (10 min)

Conway team does a short presentation on Open Space and Recreation

11:30 - 1:00

WORKSHOP

11:30 - 11:33 (Directions - 3 min)

Exercise 1: Conway team explains exercise. Conway team pass out an Open Space and Rec Map to each table and give everyone a packet of three green dots and three red dots.

11:33 - 11:45 (Exercise - 12 min)

11:45 - 11:50 (5 min) 11:50 - 11:53 (Directions - 3 min) 11:53 - 12:05 (Exercise - 12 min)

First, folks will place up to three green dots on any outdoor area in Chesterfield that they frequent. Then folks will place up to three red dots on outdoor areas in Chesterfield that they would like to see more access to or improvement in its current conditions. Written on each red dot is a unique number. On a sticky note, folks will write down the dot’s unique number and the reason they placed their dot on a specific area on the map.

Conway team will tell folks to start with the green dots, and that they have just over 10 minutes to complete the exercise. Table facilitators can help answer any questions, encourage any discussion and take notes. 6 minutes in Conway team will ask people to start putting their red dots on the map if they have not started already. Conway team will collect maps and put them in the front of the room.

Share-out: After all maps are posted in the front of the room, Conway team will ask if anyone notices any patterns about the placement of the dots.

Exercise 2: Conway explains the exercise. Conway team pass out an Open Space and Rec Map to each table. Conway team will give everyone a packet of three green dots and three red dots.

First, folks will place up to three green dots on any water access and water recreation area in Chesterfield that they frequent. Then folks will place up to three red dots on areas they’d like to see more water access to or improvement in its current conditions. Written on each red dot is a unique number. On a sticky note, folks will write down the dot’s unique number and the reason they placed their dot on a specific area on the map.

Conway team will tell folks to start with the green dots and that they have just over 10 minutes to complete the exercise. Table facilitators can help answer any questions, encourage any discussion and take notes. 6

CHESTERFIELD OSRP APPENDIX B 139

12:05 - 12:10 (5 min) 12:10 - 12:13 (Directions - 3 min) 12:13 - 12:33 (Exercise - 20 min)

minutes in, Conway team will ask people to start putting their red dots on the map if they have not started already. Conway team will collect maps and put them in the front of the room

Share-out: After all maps are posted in the front of the room, Conway team will ask if anyone notices any patterns about the placement of the dots.

Exercise 3: Conway team will pass out the notecards for exercise three. Conway team will explain the envisioning prompt: “The year is 2030 and Chesterfield has won an award for best place to live in Western Mass. What features of Chesterfield led to winning this award?”

Everyone will have 20 minutes to write their statements. It is highly recommended that folks write LEGIBLY, use bullet points and keep their vision to 5 sentences.

Table facilitators can help answer any questions at the tables and take notes.

12:33 - 12:43 (10 min)

Voting: 20 minutes in Conway team will ask that folks begin wrapping up and posting their statements on the group meeting board.

At the board, folks will have 10 minutes to read each other’s features and place green dots on the ones they agree with. Conway team will make sure everyone gets green dots to post.

12:43 - 12:55 (12 min)

Discussion: Conway team will ask tables to take 10 minutes to discuss patterns that they observed in people’s visioning statements.

12:55 - 1:00 (5 min)

Share-out: Conway team will ask tables to share some of the things they said at their tables.

1:00

Conclusion The Conway team will conclude the meeting.

General Roles

Time keeper Pin Up person / distributor of supplies Slideshow point person Floaters Table facilitators

Materials:

5x7 sticky notes Markers Dots Map stands Print-outs for break-out directions Maps for each exercise Name Tags at the table!

Centerpiece stands for IDing each table (1,2,3,4) Table setup: 4 big tables (max) Food/Snacks/Beverages Computers (if needed to help with mapping exercises) Alligator clips

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2nd Community Engagement Workshop Agenda: Chesterfield Open Space and Recreation Plan March 5, 2022 12:45 - 1:15

WELCOME

12:45 - 1:15 (15 min)

Sign-in: Core team and Conway team invite folks in, ask them to fill in the sign-in sheet, take a name tag to write their name and a sticky note for why they are here

1:15 - 1:35

Point out where the snacks are, direct people to sit at the tables with folks they do not know, and tell people that they will receive more information about what to do at their table

1:15 - 1:20 (5 min)

Core team member explains OSRP process and role of Conway students

1:20 - 1:35 (15 min)

Conway team presents an introductory slideshow

1:35 - 1:40 (Analysis - 5 min)

GOAL 1: PRESENTATION: Conway students will present the first goal: Protect natural* and historical resources, the elements that define Chesterfield’s rural character *natural resources includes farm/ag land Conway students will present maps, charts, and community meeting data to support goal:

1:40 - 1:55 (Goal setting - 15 min)

EXERCISE: Conway student will explain goal setting prompt and how much time they have: ● Do you agree with this goal? Is there anything missing from this statement? Do you see any ways to achieve this? Do you see any obstacles to achieving this?

1:35 - 3:00

INTRODUCTION

WORKSHOP Conway students will present (in a slideshow) maps, charts, and community meeting data that supports primary goals. Then residents will re-evaluate each goal in group exercises.

Consider the needs of all Chesterfield residents, people who have been here for centuries, people who just moved here, young and old, homeowners and renters, people who are working, folks on fixed incomes, etc.

1:55 - 2:00 (5 min) 2:00 - 2:05 (Analysis - 5 min)

2:05 - 2:20 (Goal setting - 15 min)

Process: ● Core team members facilitate recording responses on a flipboard. Ensures equitable participation and that all 4 questions are addressed.

Share-out Report-outs from each table

GOAL 2: PRESENTATION: Conway students will present the second goal: Enhance recreational amenities in the town center.

Conway students will present maps, charts, and community meeting data to support goal: EXERCISE: Conway student will explain goal setting prompt and how much time they have:

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●

Do you agree with this goal? Is there anything missing from this statement? Do you see any ways to achieve this? Do you see any obstacles to achieving this? How can it better meet you and your community’s needs now and for the future?

Consider the needs of all Chesterfield residents, people who have been here for centuries, people who just moved here, young and old, homeowners and renters, people who are working, folks on fixed incomes, etc.

2:20 - 2:25 (5 min) 2:25 - 2:30 (Analysis - 5 min)

Process: ● Core team members facilitate recording responses on a flipboard. Ensures equitable participation and that all 4 questions are addressed.

Share-out Report-outs from each table

GOAL 3: PRESENTATION: Conway students will present the third goal: Improve access, management, and recreational opportunities in conserved lands Conway students will present maps, charts, and community meeting data to support goal:

2:30 - 2:45 (Goal setting - 15 min)

(Conway student will pass out print-outs of maps, charts…etc)

EXERCISE: Conway student will explain goal setting prompt and how much time they have: ● Do you agree with this goal? Is there anything missing from this statement? Do you see any ways to achieve this? Do you see any obstacles to achieving this?

Consider the needs of all Chesterfield residents, people who have been here for centuries, people who just moved here, young and old, homeowners and renters, people who are working, folks on fixed incomes, etc.

2:45 - 2:50 (5 min) 2:50 -

Process: ● Core team members facilitate recording responses on a flipboard. Ensures equitable participation and that all 4 questions are addressed.

Share-out: Report-outs from each table

Core clients explains to community next steps in OSRP process

General Roles

Time keeper Distributor of print-outs Floaters Table facilitators

Materials:

Markers Pens Map stands X4 Flip Charts X4 Print-outs of data (11X17s of slides) Name Tags Sticky notes Scrap paper for discrete responses Centerpiece stands for IDing each table (1,2,3,4) Table setup: 4 big tables (max) Food/Snacks/Beverages

Prep Work:

Label flip charts with bookmarks for each activity Print and compile data for each exercise

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Appendix C (2023 Community Workshop Results)

1st Community Engagement Workshop Meeting Results : WHAT BRINGS YOU TO THE MEETING? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Climate change. Concern about increasing development that might affect forest land. Curious to hear results of Open Space Planning Committee so far.

Interest in Chesterfield Open Space The love of Chesterfield and open space Love of and concern for Chesterfield and Hilltowns We want to be involved in the community I came to the meeting because I'm interested in what happens to the land in town Curiosity about what "open space" means in a place that's so rural and sparsely populated My love of this town and it's open fields and beautiful woods The beauty, quiet, cows, sheep, farms.

Support town open space plan.

I have deep roots here and love the dirt roads, fields, forests, trees, rocks and animals (also respect the more recent animals who returned in the late 20th century, coyote, turkeys, bear, moose, cougars.

To ensure voices are heard and the data are used accordingly in planning process.

I am here because I care about preserving the historical, natural resources in Chesterfield and exploring the options for open space planning. (I have lived in Chesterfield for about 25 years).

I want to contribute to the future of Chesterfield and help ensure it remains a sustainable community Concerns about open space use Chesterfield in what will be done to the land Information Long term planning for the town.

The subject of the meeting. Desire to be part of the solution Protect + Expand Open Space I work on conservation issues in Chesterfield and surrounding towns and am here to listen I love thinking about chesterfields future Invested in open space + Court Sports Desire for off-leash dog walk area

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SUMMARY FIGURE:

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WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND VALUE ABOUT CHESTERFIELD? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Quietness! Forest, streams. Wild and scenic river, meadows, fields, trails, neighbors caring for each other! Volunteer networks. Council on Aging.

Westfield River, unique dramatic landscape, the forest, hours of trails - lifetime to discover.

Rural roads and scenic landscapes.

Small town rural lifestyle and countryside Quiet, solitude, general store, community, COA (Council on Aging) (I) value the land, the people, the peacefulness and beauty of the landscape The Natural Environment Independent people. Night sky. Trails. Quiet. How much people love and value this town. I've always loved small towns; grew up in one. Open spaces. Access to Northampton + Amherst without living there. Historical + natural resources. Clean water. Pastoral.

Night sky. Clean water. All of the above - small town lots of places to walk + enjoy - lots of state forest westfield. All of the History of Chesterfield.

Historical character. Rural. Dirt roads. Many people are volunteers but not enough. Need public bathroom.

The micro climates that are affected by the noise, light, air pollution are very important.

Natural beauty.

I love the historical character and beautiful woodlands, open spaces and wildlife.

Open Space, clean air, quiet, dark skies, historical, natural resources, clean water, hiking, good neighbors who look out for each other.

Nature, the river, quiet.

I am new to chesterfield and love the town. I value the rural character and open space Rural nature, good leadership.

So close to northampton, but so far away! Open space.

The friendliness All the protected open space which is why we moved to chesterfield. Dark skies, water, fields, big chunks of open space forever.

Chesterfield gorge + East Branch trail. Scenic views. Swimming holes.

Rural community. Our air + Water. Our 4th of july parade. Our hiking trails. Our church. Our library and our librarian (she can do magic).

Open space. Hiking trails. Disc golf.

Value chesterfield gorge + trails Nature, trails, open space, town proactive in getting resident input

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SUMMARY FIGURE:

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GROUP DOT DENSITY MAPS:

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OPEN SPACE/RECREATIONAL AREAS/WATER ACCESS AREAS YOU’D LIKE TO SEE MORE ACCESS TO OR IMPROVEMENT 1

2 3

Bend - are the number of users too great for the parking and/or water quality? Is more management needed?

Need an agreed upon plan for dealing with beaver dams - e.g. used to be a kayaking spot off of 143 but beaver dam is no longer there and Fisk Meadow is now just a stream and not a lake any more. Not sure if this was the highway dept on the beavers.

How about a trail in lily pond area? There used to be one but it got obstructed by blow downs, part of it was in Goshen.

Lily pond - access?

This looks like a very interesting piece of water that would be great to know how to access

4

More gorge access

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

More gorge access Scout Pond protected public access Damon Pond - private but would be a great to have a little public access Protect and improve trail to river beach This area has a lot of potential for water and hiking improvements Access to kayaking desirable Access to kayaking desirable More access for kayaking/swimming More access for kayaking/swimming More access for hiking/swimming Private, why?

Kayak access Can we access this pond now New area to explore and enjoy - area to add New area to explore and enjoy - area to add. New area to explore and enjoy. will be of interest to attract further the funds to it from various sources - public, private etc.

New area to explore and enjoy - area to add. New area to explore and enjoy. will be of interest to attract further the funds to it from various sources - public, private etc.

19 20 21

Off leash dog walk area

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Better trails - need signs Need trails and signage, parking Don’t want access to our water ways More access to scout pond More access to scout pond Hiking and parking Paddling Jewel Brook. Oak Hill Brook Ram Hill to fish/swim/kayak Dogwalk - safe water? access for walking, hike, dogwalk easy access to dead branch w/signage. Also water quality?

35

water quality due to cows on Bryant St. and re-direction of water runoff concentration

36

41

ATV - trail/runoff creek hiking trail to walk from Damon Pond Road to the beaver dam. Make a parking pull out space with the upcoming road construction. Work with Damon Pond to address insurance issues so the public can use the water Damon Pond need limited public access, water shouldn't be owned Need parking for kayakers Need parking and walking trail for people with disabilities that is closer to Indian Hollow Gorge water looking to improve tail system. Analysis of water, worried about dogs

42

Trail system?

43

Private land but beautiful creek/old trail system

44

There is a sign that says no trespassing

45

Nice trails, little use

37 38 39 40

46 47

I noticed this is a newly designated wildlife management area - are there trail markers?? More info would be great would love more information on this area!

LOCATION

East side of Gorge

Lilly Pond Long Pond East, middle section of Oak Hill (not the Gorge) North of Jewel Brook (also not the Gorge) West side of Ram Hill Damon Pond West side of Oak Hill Main Rd near Scout Pond Southwestmost corner of Chesterfield Southwest corner of Long Pond Southwest portion of Fisk/Dead Branch Oak Hill Wildlife Area Damon Pond Dead branch, north of Bisbee Rd Southwestmost corner of Chesterfield Tower Brook Wildlife area Ram Hill South portion of Oak Hill Wildlife Area West side of Fisk Meadow, connects to North Rd. South parcel of Dead branch state forest Ram Hill Goshen (?)

Southern part of Scout Pond Southern part of Scout Pond Northern portion of scout pond Damon Pond North of Oak Hill Brook Ram Hill Water Body Damon Pond N of Bisbee Rd West side of Ram Hill Conte Property North of Bryant St/Munson Rd intersection, on body of water West of Bryant St., along tributary North parcel of Fisk Meadow Wildlife Area Damon Pond Where Bisbee Rd meets with Main rd.

Lowest portion of Westfield River, East side.

North parcel of dead branch state forest Oak Hill Wildlife Area, parcel that meets Willcutt Rd Northwest of Indian Hollow rd along tributary North East side of Fisk Meadow.

Northwest portion of Oak Hill Wildlife Area Ram Hill Tower Brook Wildlife Area

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48

More access to this trail as well!

53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

Tennis courts could be remolded for multi-use and even covered for winter use. I would be interested in dealing with this - have connections to USTA (D. Biagioli) Don't know this area and no one seems to so maybe we should improve access or paths Don't know this area and no one seems to so maybe we should improve access or paths This is stunning land with vague unmarked trails would be great to see this area have better cleaner trails Would like to see more clarity with trails from Ireland st to Gorde and back Cool trails from Dead Branch to North Road needed Branch state forest - trails scout pond more parking for cars to kayak indian hollow better fly fishing access Damon Pond view, toehold for a picnic Scout Pond area - make it preserved public access Improved and protected public foot access to river

61

Need parking for sugar hill access to Fisk Meadow

49 50 51 52

63 64

Need a bench to rest on when walking from end of Bryant st down into indian hollow campground. Would make it more accessible for walkers, nice way to let people access the river who can't walk very far Handicap accessible trail behind the school would be great 50 plus acres of land at the school can be used for walking paths, etc.

65

need more trails for walking

66 67 68 69

more connecting trails keep trail open, needs improvements More trail maintenance of existing trails and roads More trail maintenance of existing trails and roads

70

More trail maintenance of existing trails and roads. Horse back trails also!

71 72 73 74 75 76 77

trail here! reduce forest fragmentation by putting more land in conservation easement trail here! tree damage, repair - take down hangers and woody materials on ground improve trails and kayaking trials to hike to ledges more trail development for hiking and horseback riding hiking trails to river dam again for kayaking? (water to low now)

78

finish trails - too short

79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87

Chesterfield gorge walking trails east side overall biking trails more trails ice skating pond Museum upkeep Tennis Courts Library Upkeep Walking Trails Increased access to Fisk Meadow

62

Southwest Bliss forest: Bottom middle parcel Just South of town center Tower Brook Wildlife Area East side of Fisk Meadow.

East side of Bliss State Forest Southwest Bliss State Forest.

Fisk meadow near North Rd. Branch State Forest Ram Hill East side of Bliss State Forest West side of Damon pond Ram Hill East side of Oak Hill Wildlife Area "Need parking for access". East side of Fisk Meadows.

"Bench". At end of Indian Hollow Rd, where it turns into Army Corp of Engineers rd, and meets Westfield River.

North of School School Northern parcels of Dead branch state forest East of Bryant St, along tributary Eastside of Bliss State Forest Westside of Bliss State Forest Ram Hill Northern parcels of Dead branch state forest North of School Oak Hill Wildlife Area Scout Pond Western most tributary to the gorge Westside of Bliss State Forest Westside of Bliss State Forest Scout Pond Northern parcels of Dead branch state forest East side of the Bliss State Forest On legend Tower Brook Wildlife Area Dead Branch, south of Main Rd. North of Town Center Town Center Town Center Open space lot nearest town center Westside of Fisk Meadow

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THE YEAR IS 2030 AND CHESTERFIELD HAS WON AN AWARD FOR BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN WESTERN MASS. WHAT FEATURES OF CHESTERFIELD LED TO WINNING THIS AWARD? I see Chesterfield as being a close, community minded town with multiple spots to gather and explore A multi-sport facility which includes basketball, tennis, and pickleball would be wonderful Our natural resources should be protected and cherished Landscapes like Farmland, Rivers, and Topography Large, unbroken open space with trails, water, etc Doesn't look or feel like any other town- maintains dark skies, expanses of undeveloped land and streets with no development Natural Environment Affordable Housing Good schools education around sustainable environment (K-12 community education) Preservation of natural habitat alongside residential areas Access and parking for water access for boating and fishing much more ethnically diverse Dog Friendly Signage for finding and using trails More accessible recreation area for old and disabled people Who says that award is a good thing Carbon neutral municipal buildings and ethos and not to collect mothballed buildings Excellent town center with facilities for recreation, sports, and socializing Formation of a town hiking club Very little development The town produces 10X the electricity than it consumes The town is a model for responsible forest management including sustainable harvesting Municipal buildings and school chooses to heat with local, renewable modern wood heat pellets and wood chips The town (all residents) are carbon neutral (on average) Town takes part in protecting open space Cultural center in West Chesterfield Partner with state, fed, private to maintain trails Trail association talks to land owners to keep trails open in addition to snow mobiles Historic preservation Accessible and usable town center Cultural and historic center in West Chesterfield Partner with state, fed, private to maintain trails Trail association talks to land owners to keep trails open in addition to snow mobiles Historic preservation Accessible and usable town center Cultural and historic center in West Chesterfield Bicycle lanes with road projects Engaged, active citizens Good neighbors Amazing elementary school with innovative programming that creates student stewards of local landscape as part of mission Fabulous wild and scenic trail access for both sides of Chesterfield Gorge- Hike in only from several spots Indoor tennis racquet dome over current courts Night sky and unpolluted by light clean water and plenty of it wildlife variety- seasonal changes low crime rate historical, natural and unrestricted trails and fields- stone walls, historical sites Preserved open space Historic town center Night sky wildlife variety hiking farms/ag Rural character Supporting/active community Lots of outdoor recreational opportunities, hiking, swimming no/low light pollution and noise healthy environment- water, wood Access to trails Conservation and maintenance of trails Water conservation Access to food (store) in "downtown" Protected accessible open spaces & natural areas Improved town features for community gatherings featuring use and appreciation of open spaces Rural area close to larger towns...but not too close The best air and water- so clean and yummy

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So many easy access to hiking trails The best 4th of July celebrations Scenic public trails Accessible open spaces for Chesterfield residents and visitors Attractive, clean water access for swimming and fishing Clean air and water Town common A variety of walking trails that were clearly marked for different activity levels A public beach open to swimming and fishing A map showing the most popular hiking and recreation sites (monitored by license place scanner to ensure people are honest about paying a nominal fee to access) Access to open space and trails Recreation oppurtunities for all ages and abilities Conservative housing plan The most diverse town in ages, races, place of origin, physical and mental disabilities and others The most welcoming to new residents and supportive of existing residents with needs The best recreational activities for kids of all ages including water sports, hiking, fishing, and racquet sports Outstanding school Community programs for kids, adults, seniors, including outdoor and arts activities Affordable/attainable Housing Access to nature Dark and quest night sky historical character Clean air and water Great recreational opportunities wildlife farms/ag Chesterfield has management in place for highly used areas to prevent pollution and trampling of natural ecology New construction and "development" in Chesterfield has been done in areas that do not reduce open space or pollute nature The town has a noise ordinance Commercial development has been zoned to a place that has minimal impact on open space Special areas "secret spots" have been left alone! We have not put-up open invitations to the world to come and recreate in Chesterfield.

New trails, kiosks, etc. Have been vetted for not attracting too many visitors Town center, historic character, with gathering opportunity such as community center, museum, general store, library many hiking trails much undeveloped land including waterways and trails Diverse population Dark skies, stars, moon-gazing Quiet enjoyment of my property and surrounding areas Community spirit Careful use of land with protection of scenic resources we have loads of state land- make that more usable Protect rural atmosphere Careful development of hiking trails- I would like to prohibit ATV type use completely, they destroy land Light and noise pollution are minimized by public policy and education roads are kept small to discourage speeding walking and biking trails are established and maintained with a town center kiosk for access senior housing near kiosk Solar panel powered restrooms at town pavilion

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SUMMARY FIGURE

2nd Community Engagement Workshop Meeting Results: CHESTERFIELD OSRP APPENDIX C 152

GOAL 1: PROTECT NATURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES, THE ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE CHESTERFIELD’S RURAL CHARACTER Do you agree with this goal?

Very broad (too broad?)

How does this intersect with green energy?

Define 'protect': Concern around properties coming off of tax rolls Beauty comes from public+private lands Separate natural from historic in the goal.

Need to upack historic: prior to white settlers, old industries What do we mean by protect? Protect for what? Protect from what?

What defines protection?

Is there anything missing from this statement Seek some economic activity to "offset" conservation? What other ways to bring in money for the town?

Protect doesn't just mean acquiring for public benefit. It has many meanings.

In ways that are feasible and sustainable (in all meanings of the word "sustainable": economic, environmental, and social)

Do you see any ways to achieve this?

Educate how to use resources responsibly and reduce impact Seek grants

Conflicts between community values and personal values

Paul Cantanzaro's courses on land care

State and federal law

To meet community and commonwealth and global needs

Do projects with schools to teach ecological values/citizen science master land use plan -be careful of bylaws

64% is protected

inaction can yield best results

Tax revenues needed

"enhance community engagement through informal and formal channels

Follow "best practices"

Erosion-waterways-velocity --> Separate water issues (related to climate change) For youth too --> swimming -volunteers -people involvement -sell stickers ($$) -metrics to measure + or Distinguish between private and public. Define 'natural'. How to protect privacy Don't have a goal of pacing gravel roads. Gravel roads are less expensive to maintain than paved roads. Need to understand microclimates (?)

Do you see any obstacles to achieving this?

Some types of recreation negatively impact sensitive resources. Some uses impact clean air, quiet, clean water.

-build trust enhance community engagement through informal and formal channels -build trust -build patnerships between public and private orgs (HLT, TNC, F+W) Community garden DOE food security infrastructure grants clarify what historic resources mean and are (tap shannon Brishols) Reconsider value of collecting historic buildings Decide as a town what's sustainable (tax wise) to protect?

Prioritize what's not permanently protected develop activities on other lands so people come (recreation, bathroom) leave some 'wild' -period grants for developing rural towns charge for admission "master plan to identify priorities -town center: town building plans -zoning against sprawl -development (cluster) not promoted" - "Revisit our bylaws (zoning) cluster, common driveways, planning board needs to re____(?) for residents (senior housing)" Partnership with state and feds

GOAL 2: ENHANCE RECREATIONAL AMENITIES IN THE TOWN CENTER

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Do you agree with this goal?

Yes

Is there anything missing from this statement For all ages to develop community sense (or... focus outside of town center --> at the River) Covered tennis courts/multi-use -grants available -membership fees Self guided historic or natural resources trails in center -> connect to ones outside of center Is there enough property (to enhance town center)

pickleball courts are noisy

Do you see any ways to achieve this?

Need a pavillion-place to meet (could be for $) Consider a cluster rsidential development in Town center to make it accessible (over 55)

Do you see any obstacles to achieving this?

Recrreational uses can't conflict with historic district designation Concern about out-of-towners finding our secret spots

Add sidewalks to rt 143 to the store and to CDC

Need money/resources

Connect to school? Trails? Bike path?

Sticker idea needs money for an employee or two

Year-round building/info center with bathrooms/place for people to pick up maps for trails.

Gathering space/pavillion: money would be needed, where would it go?

Parking would be needed, and communication (how do olks know about things in town)

Consider solar array over courts at park Consider combining historic uses at town hall and renovate the building (to the community center) Educate young people about town history Circuit around ballfield consider charging for parking for nonresidents consider options for the school property consider shift in policy from town disposition of land to retention for future uses idensity the needed land for specific uses before purchase need a town master plan increase walkabilty especially in center of town (something to map possibilities has been done -find out) Top priority: Increase sidewalks especially in center, all the way to the store.

Add some public parking improve Russell park -multi-use courts (tennis, pickleball, basketball) -lawn darts -covered pavillion Community garden Bike lane on rt 143 accessibly trails at 6 north -extending at Russell park Dog park is there a way to use school grounds (40a) to enhance trails or other recreational amenities?

Need a plan for using North Rd for passive recreation possibly expanding some public parking need a master plan to balance land use needs ask kids at new hingham what they would use Events for town: picnic, other Community Center - or pavillion -charge rental fees -enhances community dialogue Recreation for kids -convene them + parents to talk

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-gaming?

-dirtbike (where?) --> needs a lot of volunteers (coach, etc). (paid?)

Markings/signage needed A circle trail winter use of tennis courts for iceskating Bike paths/lanes around center connecting to 'villages' narrow pavement through lane markings for bikes -funded through highway funds need sidewalks in town center Sticker system for residents (to use recreations in town and for parking) pavillion/place for folks to gather, which would attract greater interest.

Could host events there.

Re-evaluate current use (of town recreation) to then make decisions on what should be done What's up with 6 north? --> safety complex is important if the community intends to grow.

Walking trails through town center (and possibly going through 6 North).

Preserve 6 north as a hayfield and focus enhancements on Russell Park.

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GOAL 3: IMPROVE ACCESS, MANAGEMENT, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN CONSERVED LANDS Do you agree with this goal? goal should be less acess, because increased use harms the resources

for conserved land: should be minimal impact

Break into three goals: access, management, and recreation Uncomfortable with lack of definition of word "conserved" too many public agencies to negotiate with Agree to only speak about public lands, with Damon pond being the exception goal should be less acess, because increased use harms the resources

Is there anything missing from this statement Proposed new goal: Build relationships with the entities that own "conserved" lands to engage with the community to increase/improve access to their lands Need better definition of access Need to create a goal for town-owned land Need goals with concrete action steps e.g: grants to improve Russell park, sidewalks, to create more accessibility/walkability in town center.

Revisit plans for North Rd to ensure it is used in ways that support OSRP+community goals Need land use plan to address town buildings + things with affordable housing What do we mean 'to improve'?

-conflicting uses: hunting and hiking Proposed new goal: Build relationships with the entities that own "conserved" lands to engage with the community to increase/improve access to their lands Forest management from fires

Do you see any ways to achieve this?

Do you see any obstacles to achieving this?

Management: disperse or concentrated uses?

Incompatability of some recreational uses (hunting and kayaking; hiking and snowmobiles)

Need different kinds/levels of access

Communication with the state -different purposes of conserved parcels -Current wildlife signs need to make explicit their purpose for wildlife

manage access to reduce impacts

does TOR have user data for Gorge?

add ADA features to ex trails (benches) consider redesign of snowmobile trails to reduce impacts consider discussions with state + fed land managers to align uses with Chesterfield's values Manage existing trails for all -not add more Dog park at landfill/transfer station Analyze closer conserved lands and designate some areas "human free" Establish a liasion with fed/state/Non-profit westfield river wild and scenic committee is a good start Change selectboard policy on not accepting any more CRs form trail association -pay to belong, standards for the privileges (check with Ashfield and Williamsburg) -How do you manage?

-Chapter land (for recreation) to create trails?

Enhancements: camouflage cell towers near farmland and cultural (town center) -through zoning bylaw Address: prioritize -Identify areas that are reasonably accessible (wheelchair) parking, benches -involve disabled Charge for parking -scan, tag, limited parking Kayaking/boating: W. chesterfield library as visitors center for info on such activities Bend management: explore public ownership/pub-priv partnership -fees

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Fisk Meadow: Improve access/easement from old chesterfield Rd&Rt143 Buy the camp?

-shared maintenance ROFR for properties Evaluate how state or other parties reimburse town redevlop culvert (climate change) to reconnect Fisk and South of 143 Plow parking for better access Better signage explaining the purposes of conserved land -better overall communication on what recreation lands do exist -Hunt vs hike: Better communication to ensure hunters are able to hunt and hikers can still hike. Hunting season signage at conserved lands.

Town liasion between state and residents Management: disperse or concentrated uses?

More people should run for select board

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Appendix D (Funding Opportunities) Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund Overview: The Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) is a state-funded 50% reimbursable matching grant program established in 1984 to support the preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites (cultural resources) listed in the State Register of Historic Places. Applicants must be a municipality or nonprofit organization.

Historic cultural resources in public and nonprofit ownership and use frequently suffer from deferred maintenance, incompatible use, or are threatened by demolition. These important resources represent a significant portion of the Commonwealth’s heritage. By providing assistance to historic cultural resources owned by nonprofit or municipal entities, the Massachusetts Historical Commission hopes to ensure their continued use and integrity. The program is administered in accordance with 950 CMR 73.00.

Eligible Projects: Pre-development Projects: Pre-development Projects: Requests may be submitted to conduct studies necessary to enable future development or protection of a State Register-listed property, such as feasibility studies involving the preparation of plans and specifications and historic structures reports. With planning projects, the architectural/engineering fees to conduct such studies are eligible for funding. Costs associated with the project sign, photography, and legal ads are also eligible for reimbursement.

Development Projects: Requests may be submitted for construction activities including stabilization, protection, rehabilitation, and restoration. Grant funding can only be used to cover costs of material and labor necessary to ensure the preservation, safety, and accessibility of historic cultural resources.

Development of universal access is allowable as part of a larger project (ideally, no more than 30%). With construction or "bricks & mortar" projects, therefore, the architectural or engineering fees for any project work are not eligible for funding or use as matching share.

Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Grant Program Overview: The PARC Program was established to assist cities and towns in acquiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes. These grants can be used by municipalities to acquire parkland, build a new park, or to renovate an existing park.

Eligible projects Any town with a population of 35,000 or more year-round residents, or any city regardless of size, that has an authorized park /recreation commission is eligible to participate in the program. Communities that do not meet the population criteria listed above may still qualify under the "small town," "regional," or "statewide" project provisions of the program.

Applications are open to all municipalities that have submitted an up-to-date Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Eligible Projects: • Acquisition of parkland

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• Development of new parks • Improvements to existing parks

MassTrails Grants Overview: MassTrails provides grants to support recreational trail and shared use pathway projects across the Commonwealth. The award maximum depends on the project type and needs and is generally $60,000 for “local” projects and up to $500,000 for projects demonstrating critical network connections of regional or statewide significance.

MassTrails grants are REIMBURSEMENT grants, meaning grantees must first pay for expenditures and then submit for reimbursement using the required documentation.

MassTrails grants are MATCHING grants and require that proponents provide a minimum of 20% of the total project cost.

MassTrails grants are reviewed and recommended by the Governor's Inter-Agency Trails Team and the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board (MARTAB).

Eligible Projects: Project development, design, engineering, permitting, construction, and maintenance of recreational trails, shared use pathways, and the amenities that support trails.

Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program Overview: The LAND Grant Program helps cities and towns acquire land for conservation and passive recreation purposes. The grants reimburse cities and towns for the acquisition of land in fee or for a conservation restriction. Maximum grant award amount: $500,000. Reimbursement rate: 52-70% Municipal conservation and agricultural commissions from communities with an up-to-date Open Space and Recreation Plan are eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects: Purchase of land in fee simple for conservation and passive recreation. Purchase of a Conservation Restriction

Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program Overview: The Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund provides up to 50% of the total project cost for the acquisition, development, and renovation of: • Parks • Trails • Conservation areas

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Eligible applicants include: • • • •

Municipalities that have an up-to-date Open Space and Recreation Plan Department of Conservation and Recreation Department of Fish and Game Massachusetts federally recognized tribes (Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head - Aquinnah)

Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program Overview: The goal of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program is to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have access to food, with a special focus on food that is produced locally and equitable access to food. The program also seeks to ensure that farmers, fisherman and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future food supply and distribution disruption.

Eligible grantees include applicants that are part of the Massachusetts local food system including production, processing and distribution, the emergency food distribution network, community and food organizations, school meal programming (including summer meal sponsors), urban farms and community gardens, nonprofits, and organizations that provid business planning, technical assistance and information technology services. Applicants may be those representing farms, small retailers (under 50 full-and part-time employees), food banks, fisheries, seafood dealers & processors and other food system businesses or organizations who are focused on addressing food access and/or improving and strengthening the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s food system by increasing distribution of locally grown and sourced food Anticipated budget: Up to $500,000.00 per proposal. Proposals are expected to vary in the amount of funding requested based on the anticipated activity.

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Community Preservation Act

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