The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) received its first Coastal Resilience Grant awarded by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to evaluate the effects of storms and sea level rise on the Aquinnah Cliffs.

The tribe will receive $382,109 to create a model on bluff stability at the Aquinnah Cliffs. The project will be created in association with Tufts University and aims to identify solutions for erosion impacts and seek proactive ways to protect the land.

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) is one of 12 grants totaling $3.8 million to protect the state’s coastline.

“Erosion and storm damage already threaten homes, businesses, roads and infrastructure along the 1,500 miles of coastline in Massachusetts, and impacts are getting worse,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a press release. “With these Coastal Resilience Grant awards, we are investing in solutions to protect housing affordability, business competitiveness and safety in coastal communities.”

The Aquinnah Cliffs were designated as a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. National Parks Service in 1965.

“Our region is often the canary in the coal mine when it comes to rising seas and extreme weather, and investments like these show what it takes to adapt and safeguard our future,” said state Sen. Julian Cyr in the release.