Upstate Forever

The Upstate Forever land conservation program is accredited by the land trust accreditation commission and has protected 30,169 acres thorugh 150 conservation easements in the Upstate of south carolina. 25% of the easements provide public access and 29% are working farms. In 2022, Upstate Forever helped to preserve five projects totaling about 796 acres and initiated a land management program to help restore habitat on conservation easement properties.

Land planning and policy: in 2022 land planning and policy staff engaged with local elected and appointed officials and government staff on issues related to smarter land development. They also participated in education and advocacy efforts with transit and housing advocates, facilitated a citizens planning academy to educate citizens, hosted an advocacy training and a targeted advocacy event to influence local land use decision-making. Social media and dedicated email lists were used to engage and activate citizens. The organization supported adoption of the highway 11 overlay in pickens county and mobilized citizens to support adoption of updated land development regulations in laurens county. Citizen engagement was supported in the city of greenville and greenville county initiatives to overhaul land development regulations. The organization advocated for policies that implement the city and county comprehensive plans. The organization also participated in other local planning and policy efforts in the cities of spartanburg, travelers rest, and greer.

In 2022, the clean water program collaborated with drinking water utilities in pickens and anderson counties in south carolina to develop a source water protection plan in the twelvemile creek watershed. This watershed plan is being developed in partnership with clemson university's center for watershed excellence and helps to protect this critical drinking water resource by devising pollution reduction strategies for bacteria, nutrient, and sediment pollution in these areas. The organization worked with partners to install a variety of best management practices 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. The organization also participated as a stakeholder on the state water planning process advisory committee in the development of the state water plan and served on the broad river basin council to develop a sustainable and equitable water resource allocation plan for the broad river basin. The organization had representation on the board of the lake keowee source water protection team and the lake hartwell partners for clean water. The organization also collaborated with the reedy river water quality group to improve water quality in the reedy river watershed through local engagement. Additional activities included conducting an educational and outreach campaign to increase the public understanding and appreciation for having access to clean, reliable water; publishing water-related news in quarterly newsletters; and providing comments to state and federal agencies regarding any permits with any potential impacts to water quality and quantity across Upstate sc.

Other work of Upstate Forever includes the energy program, connecting people to nature, and the legislative focus of keeping Upstate citizens aware of issues that affect daily life and the health of the Upstate community.