Federal funds will help protect scenic land and habitat near Dexter Mill Road and New Bedford Road in Rochester, and Nasketucket Bay State Reservation in Mattapoisett.

On Monday, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced that $83,460 in federal grants were awarded to four South Coast communities.

Rochester received $20,000 to protect a 47.8-acre parcel, known as the McCarty property, near New Bedford Road.

“We are working in partnership with the Rochester Land Trust to permanently protect the property,” Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said. “The first step is to do a survey plan.”

Farinon said the funds would be used to hire an engineer to conduct a field survey and prepare a plan for the site. Currently, Lucky Field Orgranics uses part of the site as farmland.

In addition to farmland, the parcel has forests, and contains endangered species and critical natural habitats.

Mattapoisett received $21,730 to support the permanent protection of 398 acres around Nasketucket Bay. Mattapoisett, along with Fairhaven, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation are working together on a project that will protect rare and endangered species. When finished, the project will add 18 acres of waterfront property to the reservation.

Mattapoisett conservation officials could not be immediately reached for comment.