New Grant Advances Mason Street Project & Trains Next Generation

The Rehoboth Land Trust (RLT) has won another grant to advance the design of the marsh restoration planned for the Mason Street Conservation Area. In October 2025, Restore America’s Estuaries, in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Southeast New England Program (SNEP), granted RLT a SNEP Watershed Implementation Grant (SWIG) to fund completion of selected design and permitting tasks.

RLT’s overall goal for the Mason Street project is to restore the natural flow of an unnamed tidal tributary at our 12-acre property along the east shore of the Palmer River. The tributary flows through two obsolete stone culverts that restrict tidal flow to and from the river channel, hindering the marsh’s natural growth. The project also includes features that will enhance public enjoyment of the riverfront property, such as replacing one of the culverts with a footbridge.

This project presents RLT with the perfect opportunity to educate the next generation of landscapers and conservation property managers. As part of our SWIG-funded work, RLT will host a basic vegetation management workshop at the Mason Street property for trainees from the nonprofit GroundworkRI, and students from Bristol County Agricultural High School. RLT will also continue to work with Save the Bay, which has been serving as a consultant for the restoration.

This is the second grant RLT has received related to this project. In 2024, federal funding through the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program financed the initial design. The recently awarded SWIG funding will cover the costs related to completing the proposed design, and permitting for the culvert removals and bridge installation. RLT will seek further funding to actually implement the restoration activities. If you would like to contribute to this project, please visit www.rehobothlandtrust.org to donate.

This project is supported by EPA Grant No. SE00A00708 through the SNEP. The views expressed above are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USEPA. Rehoboth Land Trust, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded by donations and run by dedicated volunteers. We are not a town committee.