The Refuge consists of approximately 1,667 acres (6.75 km2) of upland, southern New England floodplain forest, and wetland communities along nearly 8 miles (13 km) of the Nashua River corridor.

Two of the transfers from the Army (May 1974 and February 1988) formed the original 711-acre (2.88 km2) portion of the Refuge located south of Massachusetts Route 2.

Finally, approximately 120 acres (0.49 km2) were added to the Refuge in April, 2001, with the acquisition of the former Watt Farm property along Still River Depot Road in Harvard.

The primary purpose for which the Refuge was created is its "...particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program."

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.