UPSTATE FOREVER
507 PETTIGRU STREET, GREENVILLE, SC 29601 www.upstateforever.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: 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 2019, THE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM COLLABORATED WITH DRINKING WATER UTILITIES IN PICKENS AND OCONEE COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO DEVELOP A SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN IN THE LAKE KEOWEE WATHERSHEDS AS PART OF THE LAKE KEOWEE SOURCE WATER PROTECTION TEAM. THIS WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN HELPS TO PROTECT THIS CRITICAL DRINKING WATER RESOURCE BY ADDRESSING BACTERIA, SEDIMENT, AND NUTRIENT POLLUTION. INSTALLED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) INCLUDING REPAIRING 22 SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND 4 AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS (I.E., DRIP IRRIGATION, EXCLUSION FENCING) IN THE TYGER RIVER WATERSHED IN GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES IN SC TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. SERVED AS A STAKEHOLDER ON THE STATE WATER PLANNING PROCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE OF SC WATER PLAN AND FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO IMPROVE WETLAND AND STREAM MITIGATION AND FLOOD PROTECTION ACROSS THE STATE. CONTINUED MONITORING A UTILITY COMPANY'S COMPLIANCE WITH A VOLUNTARY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO REMOVE COAL ASH PONDS WHICH THREATEN THE SALUDA RIVER. COLLABORATED WITH THE REEDY RIVER WATER QUALITY GROUP TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE REEDY RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH LOCAL ENGAGEMENT. PROVIDED COMMENTS TO STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING ANY PERMITS WITH ANY POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY.

LAND TRUST: THE UPSTATE FOREVER LAND TRUST PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST ASSOCIATION AND HAS PROTECTED 22,023 ACRES THROUGH 125 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 35% OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS AND 35% ARE WORKING FARMS. OVER 15% OF THE EASEMENTS PROTECT PROPERTIES ALONG OR NEAR SCENIC HIGHWAY 11. IN 2018 UPSTATE FOREVER HELPED TO PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT ACREAGE ADJACENT TO PARIS MOUNTAIN STATE PARK. THREE PROJECTS, TOTALING 234 ACRES, WERE PRESERVED AND ADDED TO THE STATE PARK OR CONSERVED BY A PRIVATE LANDOWNER.

LAND POLICY AND PLANNING: IN 2019 LAND POLICY AND PLANNING ENGAGED WITH LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT STAFF ON ISSUES RELATED TO SMARTER LAND DEVELOPMENT. COORDINATED ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF TRANSIT AND HOUSING ADVOCATES, INCLUDING TWO COMMUNITY FORUMS FOCUSED ON THE INTERSECTION OF TRANSIT, HOUSING, AND LAND USE. LAUCNCHED A CITIZENS PLANNING ACADEMY TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON HOW TO INFLUENCE LOCAL LAND USE DECISION-MAKING AND USED SOCIAL MEDIA AND DEDICATED EMAIL LISTS TO ENGAGE CITIZENS DIGITALLY. SUPPORTED THE ADOPTION OF IMPROVED LAND USE REGULATIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST SECTOR OF SPARTANBURG COUNTY AND A PROGRESSIVE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. PROVIDED EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT INFLUENCED EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF TRAVELERS REST TO ADOPT POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE MORE DIVERSE HOUSING CHOICES.

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