Upstate Forever

In 2024, the clean water program collaborated with drinking water utilities as well as local, state and federal 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 the three and twenty creek watershed in anderson and pickens counties, south carolina. The program also initiated the development of a source water protection plan for the rocky river watershed in anderson and abbeville counties, south carolina. The clean water program also participated in the development of the state water plan by serving on the saluda and upper savannah river basin councils to develop sustainable and equitable water resource allocation plans for these basins. The program also served on the boards of the anderson water council, 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 through local advocacy, education, and project engagement.

In 2024, 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.

Other work of upstate forever includes advocacy for projects that impact the upstate community including the partnership to advance the saluda grade rail 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.