Upstate Forever

UPSTATE FOREVER IS A CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO PROTECT CRITICAL LANDS, WATERS, AND THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

CLEAN WATER: IN 2021, THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM COLLABORATED WITH DRINKING WATER UTILITIES IN GREENWOOD AND LAURENS COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO DEVELOP A SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN IN THE LAKE GREENWOOD WATERSHEDS. THIS WATERSHED PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SC RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION AND HELPS TO PROTECT THIS CRITICAL DRINKING WATER RESOURCES BY DEVISING POLLUTION REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOR BACTERIA, NUTRIENT, AND SEDIMENT POLLUTION IN THESE AREAS. SECURED FUNDING TO DEVELOP A WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE TWELVEMILE WATERSHED IN PICKENS AND ANDERSON COUNTIES. WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO INSTALL A VARIETY OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION INCLUDING REPAIRING SEPTIC SYSTEMS, INSTALLING AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS (I.E., CROSS FENCING, ALTERNATE WATERING SOURCES, COVER CROPS) AND PERMANENTLY PROTECTING LAND IN THE TYGER RIVER WATERSHED IN GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES AND IN THE THREE AND TWENTY CREEK WATERSHED IN ANDERSON COUNTY. PARTICIPATED AS A STAKEHOLDER ON THE STATE WATER PLANNING PROCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SC'S STATE WATER PLAN AND SERVED ON A STATE TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE THE STATE'S ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SERVICES. SERVED AS A BOARD MEMBER ON THE LAKE KEOWEE SOURCE WATER PROTECTION TEAM. COLLABORATED WITH THE REEDY RIVER WATER QUALITY GROUP TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE REEDY RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH LOCAL ENGAGEMENT. CONDUCTED AN EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR HAVING ACCESS TO CLEAN, RELIABLE WATER. PUBLISHED WATER-RELATED NEWS IN QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS. PROVIDED COMMENTS TO STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING ANY PERMITS WITH ANY POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY ACROSS UPSTATE SC.

LAND TRUST: THE UPSTATE FOREVER LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST ASSOCIATION AND HAS PROTECTED 29,403 ACRES THROUGH 147 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 24% OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS AND 28% ARE WORKING FARMS. IN 2021, UPSTATE FOREVER HELPED TO PRESERVE PROJECTS, TOTALING ABOUT 3,600 ACRES, WILL BE STEWARDED BY UPSTATE FOREVER OR WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

LAND POLICY AND PLANNING: IN 2021 LAND POLICY AND PLANNING STAFF ENGAGED WITH LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT STAFF ON ISSUES RELATED TO SMARTER LAND DEVELOPMENT. PARTICIPATED IN EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS WITH TRANSIT AND HOUSING ADVOCATES. FACILITATED TWO CITIZENS PLANNING ACADEMIES TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON HOW TO INFLUENCE LOCAL LAND USE DECISION-MAKING. USED SOCIAL MEDIA AND DEDICATED EMAIL LISTS TO ENGAGE AND ACTIVATE CITIZENS. SUPPORTED ADOPTION OF A STRENGTHENED TREE ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF GREENVILLE AND A NEW AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT AND RURAL CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION DESIGN GUIDELINES IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. ADVOCATED FOR POLICIES TO IMPLEMENT THE GREENVILLE COUNTY AND CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS. PARTICIPATED IN OTHER LOCAL PLANNING AND POLICY EFFORTS IN THE CITIES OF SPARTANBURG, TRAVELERS REST, CLEMSON, AND GREER.

ENERGY AND STATE POLICY PROGRAM AND OTHER: THE ENERGY PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON THREE AREAS: MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UPSTATE, PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RATEPAYER PROTECTIONS, AND ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS THE UPSTATE'S ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES. UF KEPT UPSTATE RESIDENTS INVOLVED THROUGH OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND KEPT OUR VOICE IN CONVERSATIONS IN THE STATEHOUSE, STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. OUR ENERGY PROGRAM HAS REIGNITED ITS GOAL TO TAKE ON MORE LOCAL ADVOCACY INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIZE ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT EXPERIENCE HIGH ENERGY BURDEN. WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN GREENVILLE COUNTY BY DEVELOPING A SURVEY ON ENERGY BURDEN (IN SPANISH) TO BE DISTRIBUTED. UF HAS ALSO TAKEN ON A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH THE NEWLY FORMED SC ENERGY JUSTICE COALITION, A GROUP WE HELPED TO FORM LATE LAST YEAR. THROUGH WORK WITH THIS GROUP, WE PLAN TO FOCUS ON BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN ENERGY RELATED LEGISLATION AND DECISION MAKING.