the trouble with making a "beanstalk" (AKA space elevator, orbital tether, etc) to the moon is that the moon doesnt have a geosynchronous orbit
now since the moon is tidally locked it would be possible to connect a point on the surface of the moon to a station orbiting the earth, although im not sure if you can put something into a stable earth orbit that could connect to the moon
on the other hand, a tether connecting a point on the earths equator to a station in geosynchronous orbit might be possible in the future, this was just in the news recently
http://www.google.co...PQbvGwD9BQNNGG0and similarly, a tether from a point on the moon to a point in lunar orbit, however the water was found at the south pole, and an orbital tether would only work along the equator
and a permanent colony on the moon has been a goal for a couple years now, to use a jumping off point for a manned mission to mars, the presence of water just makes it easier