The Watch Hill Lighthouse and associated structures are located on a peninsula in southeastern Rhode Island, in the town of Westerly. The first watch tower was built during the King George’s war to serve as a warning system for naval attack and was destroyed during a storm in 1781. Congress approved the erection of a lighthouse on Watch Hill Point in 1806, and in 1807 construction of a wood tower was completed. This tower remained for approximately 50 years until it was also destroyed during a storm.

In 1855, the construction of the new, and current, lighthouse began. The lighthouse and associated structures are part of the overall Watch Hill Historic District and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 1985. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation.

The peninsula is subjected to large coastal storm waves and shoreline erosion. Wave action has resulted in displacement of revetment stone, exposed seawall footings and undermined seawall footings. These deficiencies leave the features susceptible to failure. The primary objectives of the Section 14 Feasibility Study are to reduce the risk of damange to the Watch Hill Lighthouse and associated facilities from coastal storms and retain the aid to navigation.