A new conservation agent has been hired to serve the towns of Williamsburg, Whately, Ashfield, Buckland and Hawley.

Greenfield resident Kelly Kowal was chosen out of 27 applicants. A hiring committee consisting of representatives from each town unanimously recommended Kowal after narrowing the applicant pool down to three finalists who were invited for an interview.

“I think she interviewed very well, she’s from around here [and] she seemed very enthusiastic about this,” Ashfield Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III told the Ashfield Select Board at a recent meeting.

Kowal will be hired with a salary of $47,500, paid through a state Efficiency and Regionalization grant. McLatchy said the $96,000 grant will cover Kowal’s salary, benefits and mileage, as well as administrative fees and any equipment necessary for the role. The grant will cover the position for one year, after which the five towns will be responsible for covering the cost.

Ashfield will be the managing town responsible for paying Kowal’s salary, and the other partner towns will reimburse Ashfield, with costs split based on how much each town requires Kowal’s services.

As conservation agent, Kowal will be responsible for managing applications, certificates and correspondence for the five towns’ conservation commissions, as well as helping the boards navigate environmental regulations and how they are applicable to individual projects.

Conservation commissions help enforce the Wetlands Protection Act, a 1972 law that prohibits construction on wetlands or waterfront areas, as well as other environmental protection regulations. Commissions are tasked with reviewing applications for construction projects near or in environmentally sensitive areas, conducting site visits, and managing certificates of compliance and other paperwork.

Kowal, a Sunderland native, has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in marine biology from Northeastern University. She previously worked as a wetlands and wildlife intern for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, reviewing projects to ensure compliance with state, federal and municipal environmental regulations.

“I’m really excited to be appointed to the role. I’ve had a lifelong interest in nature and grew up exploring the woods and wetlands of western Mass,” Kowal said. “It will be a pleasure to help preserve our natural resources.”

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.