The Sexiest Conservation Project in Massachusetts

Just five miles up Elm Street, the remains of a golf course can be spotted through the trees. Beaver Brook Golf Course closed its doors for the last time in July and is currently in the process of “rewilding” as it becomes a community park. The Trustees, a Massachusetts land conservation nonprofit, purchased the property in collaboration with Hilltown Land Trust (HLT), intending to transform the once exclusive space into something that would benefit Williamsburg and the surrounding towns. The Beaver Brook Rewilding Project has already provided Smith students with internships, research, and volunteer opportunities, and offers opportunities to engage with communities and organizations in the Pioneer Valley.

Beaver Brook. Photo Courtesy of Lily Serry

Three hundred years ago, the economy of Williamsburg, Massachusetts, relied upon proximity to the Mill River. While Williamsburg has moved on from its reliance on hydropower, the river has remained in place. Climate change has caused increasing flooding, challenging the local government to find ways to minimize the impact of a longer and more severe flood season. An analysis of possible solutions was conducted, and state grant funds were secured to purchase a parcel of land for “rewild.” “Rewilding” refers to the process of taking land that has been heavily manipulated and allowing it to slowly return to its natural ecosystems.

“One of the ways that you can reduce your vulnerability to flooding is to increase forest cover, because forests in the upland are sponges that hold water in a big rainstorm,” said Smith Laboratory Professor Gaby Immerman. Beaver Brook was identified as the best location to rewild due to its proximity to the river and large, unforested area. HLT, a regional affiliate of the Trustees, worked with the town of Williamsburg to purchase the property. As a Trustee's property, Beaver Brook will be a recreational space that is open to the public. Increasing the density of vegetation in the former golf course will mitigate the impacts of Mill River flooding on the town of Williamsburg, and existing paved paths will increase the accessibility of outdoor recreational areas.

The Trustees are looking into how they can “undo or move beyond” historic manipulation of the sensitive floodplain area, according to Wendy Ferris, Regional Vice President of the Trustees. With the creation of the golf course, streams in the floodplain were relocated, small ponds were created, and sand pits were dug. This problem will be addressed thoughtfully because, “You don’t want to fight against water,” said Immerman, “water is way more powerful than people.”

That’s why the trustees will be “looking deep into the soils,” said Ferris, researching the natural history of the property for restoration. Restoration will involve “planting species, planting native shrubs, trees, flowers, and encouraging the ones that are already there to flourish,” said Ferris, “and included in that taking a pretty active hand in killing invasive plants, so that the ones that we do want to thrive can exist without that kind of competition or stress.” They hope to return the landscape to what it used to be.

However, this project isn’t just about restoration, “[The] Trustees,” according to Immerman, “is highly interested in community engagement.” This is why Beaver Brook will be a “Conservation Park” balancing recreation and conservation.

HLT and the Trustees allow for those in the Smith community, with varying levels of commitment, to get involved. Sign up for the HLT mailing list and attend the next volunteer event. Beyond volunteering, students can get involved through ENV and ES&P coursework. For someone who wants to get involved outside of the classroom, there are plenty of opportunities there as well. Immerman has connected many students to ENV and ES&P capstones, concentrations, special studies, Praxis-funded internships, and even work-study positions outside of Smith.

Beaver Brook, “the sexiest project in Massachusetts,” according to Immerman, inspires so much excitement because it is centered around people. Right off of Route 9, locals will witness the coming transformation.

The unfolding of this project could prove that conservation works when people are passionate and “very lived, hyper local” groups such as HLT are involved. “It's going to be really exciting” said Immerman.

By Celia DiNitto, Gabby Bay & Corinn Richards

References:

Gaby Immerman, interview with the authors, 13 November 2025.

Wendy Ferris, interview with the authors over Zoom, 05 November 2025.

Rewild Beaver Brook. (2025). Retrieved from https://thetrustees.org/content/rewild-beaver-brook/