Lake Keowee Watershed - LKSWPT

The Water Log: Fall 2025

Hello from the Clean Water Team!

We hope that this newsletter finds you well and fulfilled from an enjoyable summer. Our team has been busy working to complete the Upstate River Basin Plans. We've also been advancing our core work by applying for additional funding for both watershed-based planning and implementation.

Often overlooked in this work is the vital role that community-based stakeholder groups play in source water protection. In this issue of the Water Log, we take a deep dive into two important taskforces: the Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team and the Lake Hartwell Partners for Clean Water.

Read on to learn about each group's mission, the participating organizations, and the work that they do to protect clean water resources in the Upstate.

Wishing you a happy fall!

Rebecca Wade

Clean Water Specialist

Upstate Forever

Lake Hartwell - Anderson County

Introduction to Clean Water Taskforces

Taskforces are essential to source water protection

When considering protecting and enhancing large waterbodies such as Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell, it can often be difficult to identify a key entity that manages conservation work. Upstate South Carolina reservoirs provide critical drinking water, energy production, and outdoor recreation to our local communities.

Protecting and monitoring these complex systems takes strong teamwork and dedication from many partners. To do this effectively, community-based groups work to connect key stakeholders, foster collaboration, and guide conservation, education, and grant implementation across the region.

Upstate Forever relies on these stakeholder groups to achieve our mission of protecting and enhancing water quality in the Upstate. As such, members of our Clean Water team have been involved in the formation and leadership of two main stakeholder groups since their formation: Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team and Lake Hartwell Partners for Clean Water.

Lake Keowee Watershed - LKSWPT

Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team

The Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team (LKSWPT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2017 by Duke Energy through the Keowee-Toxaway Hydroelectric Relicensing process to safeguard drinking water quality for Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee counties. LKSWPT's primary goals are to monitor, preserve, and enhance water quality across the Lake Keowee watersheds through proactive measures and strategic planning.

The coalition of partner organization that comprises LKSWPT include Advocates for Quality Development (AQD), Duke Energy, Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS), Greenville Water, Oconee County, Pickens County, and Seneca Light and Water.

A key component of LKSWPT's outreach strategy lies in engaging local stakeholders through initiatives like the Adopt-A-Stream Program, enabling citizen scientists to monitor and report on local water quality trends. In addition, LKSWPT hosts workshops to encourage practices that enhance erosion-control practices and shoreline protection measures.

Specifically, they host a community event each year at Duke's World of Energy to connect homeowners with content experts. Moreover, LKSWPT manages a septic repair/replacement grant that helps homeowners get cost-share assistance to fix failing septic systems along the lake.

In order to accomplish this program, LKSWPT has authored watershed-based plans for the Cane Creek, Little Cane Creek, and the broader Lake Keowee watersheds. These plans identify pollution sources and outline strategies to reduce bacterial, nutrient, and sediment loads.

To date, LKSWPT has used funding from South Carolina Department of Environmental Services' 319(h) implementation program in combination with money from LKSWPT to fix over 140 failing septic systems, reducing the annual flow of contaminated wastewater and harmful bacteria into Lake Keowee by 25 million gallons.

Together, these efforts — community volunteer engagement, watershed planning, and grant implementation — demonstrate LKSWPT's comprehensive and collaborative approach to protecting Lake Keowee's water quality for South Carolina's present and future generations.

Erika Hollis, LKSWPT's acting Chairperson, received an Honor Roll award

on behalf of LKSWPT from the Izaak Walton League of America in 2024

Lake Hartwell Partners for Clean Water

Immediately downstream of Lake Keowee is Lake Hartwell, which is represented by its own taskforce: Lake Hartwell Partners for Clean Water (LHPCW). LHPCW's mission is safeguarding Lake Hartwell's drinking water resources. The organization serves as a key partner for Upstate Forever's watershed planning and implementation work across the Upper Savannah River Basin. Their focus has been pollution management, water quality education, and litter cleanups.

Operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, they are equipped to raise funds, receive donations, and channel resources into strategic actions that foster partnerships and fund essential watershed-level initiatives. A standout initiative is the Trash Tank pictured below. This boat is a custom litter collection vessel that launched in August 2024. The Trash Tank was built in partnership with Lake Hartwell Association and multiple local businesses to improve access to remote or debris-filled areas. The Trash Tank has significantly enhanced community visibility for water protection and cleanup capabilities.

Education is a key pillar of LHPCW's efforts across the watershed. The LHPCW emphasizes educating the public on water protection through their mission and project programming. Their board composition reinforces an education focus by having experts from Clemson University Cooperative Extension serve as members. Some of the initiatives include Carolina Clear and Carolina Yards, which aim to inform residents about pollution, stormwater runoff, and sustainable landscaping practices.

By blending community science initiatives with outreach and watershed planning, LHPCW empowers the lake's community to take part in informed stewardship that creates a lasting impact across the Lake Hartwell Watershed.

LHPCW's "Trash Tank"

Anderson Water Council RFP

The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council — also referred to as the Anderson Water Council (AWC) — is seeking grant applications! The AWC is a volunteer advisory committee working to assist nonprofit organizations including Upstate Forever and Savannah Riverkeeper in identifying, prioritizing, and funding projects to restore water quality in areas of the Savannah River watershed impacted by the Kinder Morgan 2014 petroleum pipeline spill.

Eligible organizations are able to apply for awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for education and outreach, and up to $100,000 for site remediation and land protection grants in the impacted area.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Applications for this grant are being accepted until 5:00pm on September 15th. For more information about this funding opportunity, click here.

Fall Events

Upstate Forever Annual Meeting

Sunday, October 12th

2:00-5:00 PM

Elf Leaf Farm

141 N. Campbell Road

Landrum, SC 29536

Join UF Staff, Board of Directors, and supporters as we celebrate the past year's conservation successes at Elf Leaf Farm, a family-owned lavender farm located in Landrum, SC.

This is a fun, family-oriented event open to all UF members*. Barbecue (with vegan and vegetarian options available) will be provided by SmokinFlava, as well as beer, wine, and other refreshments after the meeting portion has concluded. Elf Leaf's Farm Store will be open during the event. Pets are not allowed, but service animals are welcome.

This event is complimentary for UF members, but your RSVP is appreciated.

*If your membership has lapsed or you have never officially given, you can click here to make an online donation. An annual gift of $35 qualifies for an individual membership, $50 for a family membership.

Lake Robinson Day 2025

Saturday, October 18th

2:00-5:00pm

2544 Mays Bridge Road,

Greer, SC 29651

Discover the natural beauty of Lake Robinson while learning where Greer’s drinking water begins. Bring the whole family for a FREE day packed with outdoor activities, cool water facts, and community fun!

💧 Water Education

🛶 Kayaking

🏰 Bounce Houses

🩸 Blood Drive

🌲Tree Giveaway

🧘Outdoor Yoga

🍔 Lunch

💧 Rain Barrel Workshop

Pre-registration required for rain barrel workshop, yoga, and lunch. Visit Greer CPW's Facebook page for more information about this event!

Until next time!

Thank you for signing up to receive The Water Log, UF’s email newsletter dedicated to Clean Water news, issues, and information. We appreciate your interest and dedication to safeguarding the Upstate’s water resources.  

If you have any questions about this topic or would like to learn about another Clean Water issue in a future edition, please contact Rebecca at rwade@upstateforever.org. 

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Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina.  Over the past two decades, we have worked to protect the natural assets that make the Upstate so special — our farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, and clean air. We are committed to ensuring that our communities are vibrant and retain their green spaces, outdoor heritage, and unique identities in the face of rapid development and significant sprawl. Our vision is an environmentally healthy, economically prosperous Upstate that offers a high quality of life now and for future generations.

Funding for watershed improvement projects provided wholly or in part by the US EPA under Section 319 Grants through the SC Department of Environmental Services (SCDES).

Funding for WBPs provided wholly or in part by the US EPA under a Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds Grant through the SC Department of Environmental Services (SCDES).

For more information, visit our website at upstateforever.org or send us an email.