Upstate Forever

Upstate Forever advocates for projects that impact the Upstate community including the partnership for the saluda grade trail project, administration of the Upstate land conservation fund (ulcf), the energy and state policy program that maintains a legislative focus of keeping Upstate citizens aware of issues that affect daily life and the health of the Upstate community.

In 2023, 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 in partnership with clemson university's center for watershed excellence to devise pollution reduction strategies in these areas. The organization worked with partners to install a variety of best management practices to reduce water pollution and permanently protect land in the tyger river watershed in greenville and spartanburg counties and in the three and twenty creek watershed in anderson and pickens counties. The organization also participated in the development of the state water plan and served on the broad, saluda, and upper savannah river basin councils to develop a sustainable and equitable water resource allocation plan for river basins in Upstate south carolina. The organization also partnered with the tyger river foundation on the development of a recreational master plan for the tyger river recreation cooridor in spartanburg county. The organization also served on the boards of the lake keowee source water protection team, the lake hartwell partners for clean water and partnered with the reedy river water quality group to improve water quality in the reedy river watershed through local advocacy, education, and project engagement.

The Upstate Forever land conservation program is accredited by the land trust accreditation commission and has protected 30,956 acres thorugh 163 conservation easements in the Upstate of south carolina. 23% of the easements provide public access and 29% are working farms. In 2023, Upstate Forever helped to preserve 13 projects totaling about 737 acres and initiated a land management program to help restore habitat on conservation easement properties.

In 2023 land planning and policy staff engaged with local elected and appointed officials and government staff on issues related to smarter land development, with a primary focus on advancing policies that implement city and county comprehensive plans. They partnered on education and advocacy efforts with transit and housing advocates and facilitated a citizens planning academy to educate residents on local land use policies and avenues to influence decision-making. Social media and dedicated email lists were used to engage and activate residents. The organization supported the adoption of a new city of greenville development code, a unified development ordinance in the city of greer, a new zoning ordinance in the city of woodruff, and an improved tree and landscaping ordinance in the city of anderson. Citizens were mobilized to influence the city of greenville's proposed development code and to advance strengthened requirements for riparian buffers in greenville county. The organization also participated in other local planning and policy efforts in the city of spartanburg and spartanburg county.