In order to help repair a crumbling seawall, the Wareham Land Trust has received a grant from the state to conduct a feasibility study for the North Water Street Beach structure.

The land trust has been concerned with the seawall's deteriorating condition since buying it in 2003 but they have been unable to perform comprehensive repairs to the seawall themselves.

The grant is for $85,000 and will allow the land trust to bring in the Woods Hole Group, a Bourne-based environmental engineering group to assess the condition of the seawall.

Ryan Semple, who serves on the board of directors of the land trust, explained the grant does not fund rehabilitation of the wall but the feasibility study is an important first step in the process. 

"This funding from the state is critical for ensuring that the health of the coastal habitat is guaranteed," said Semple. "The adjacent community remains protected against dangers such as sea level rise and storm surge, and North Water Street Beach remains safely accessible to the public."

Once the feasibility study is completed, Semple explained the land trust plans to apply for two more grants to complete the restoration project.

Semple explained one grant would be to pay for the design of the restoration or the design of a new seawall depending on the results of the feasibility study. The second would cover the actual construction.