The Reedy Recap

Friends of the Reedy River

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities

BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament: June 5-11

The BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament takes place next week (June 5-11). Thank you to everyone who is volunteering with FoRR on the Green Team. We are excited to see you all out on the course!

Cleveland Park Stables Invasive Plant Pull: June 15

Join us on Thursday, June 15 from 8:30-11am as we partner with Grenville County Parks and Recreation to host an Invasive Plant Pull in the rain gardens at Cleveland Park Stables! Find more information and register here!

Water Quality Monitoring Outings: TBD in mid-June

The Greenville and Simpsonville water quality monitoring teams will head to the river for water quality sampling in mid-May. Updates will be announced on our social media and in our Monitoring Team Email. Please contact us if you are interested in joining and Join Our Monitoring Team to receive future updates!



McPherson and Unity Park Restoration Walks: June TBD

Friends of the Reedy River will be leading a series of walking tours to share the stream restoration efforts completed within the City of Greenville. These walks will be free and open to the public. Stay tuned for details!

Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Workshop - June 29

FoRR Adopt-a-Stream Trainers will be leading a Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Workshop in Greenville on June 29. Registration is full, but please contact us if you’d like to join the waitlist for this specific training. Join Our Monitoring Team to be amongst the first to learn about future FORR-led trainings!

Sponsor Spotlight: Bricolage Dynamics

The BMW Charity Pro-Am (BMWCPA) Golf Tournament takes place the week of June 5th. This is a one-of-a-kind tournament that has committed to incorporating sustainability by operating as a carbon-neutral event. Friends of the Reedy River is proud to share that one of our sponsors, Bricolage Dynamics, will be partnering with the BMWCPA to recycle all glass produced from the event into sand. They will be selling this sand to Greenville County and a sandblasting company out of Pickens ($20/ton plus a $10 delivery fee). Visit www.bricdynamics.com to learn more.

May In Review...

May 19

APWA Litter Cleanup

American Public Works Association (APWA, SC Chapter - Upstate) participated in a litter cleanup with FoRR. They gathered trash from the wetlands behind the Kroc Center and along the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Unity Park. It was great to have employees from the City of Greenville out to support our efforts at improving the health and cleanliness of our watershed.

Month of May

Orvis Spring GiveBack Days

Thank you to the Greenville Orvis store for collecting donations for FORR throughout the month of May. For a minimum $10 donation, shoppers received a 10% discount on their purchase with all donation proceeds going directly to FORR! Thank you to the store staff and managers for choosing FORR to be the recipient of this year’s Spring GiveBack Days! 

Celebrating Our Sponsors

Mast General Store (Boone) 35 Years

Mast General Store is having a huge year! Their Boone, NC location is celebrating 35 years and our very own Greenville store has now been in business on Main Street for 20 years. 

They have been a longtime community partner of FORR, and we appreciate their continued support. Let's show our thanks by visiting their store on Main Street in downtown Greenville. They also have locations in NC, TN, and VA.

Board Member Highlight

Rebecca Wade

With experience ranging from wildlife research to environmental education, Rebecca is presently utilizing her knowledge as the Clean Water Associate at Upstate Forever. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Furman University where she studied conservation biology and philosophy. During her undergraduate studies and following her graduation, Rebecca had opportunities to work in research pertaining to mountain lions, bobcats, Mexican grey wolves, Bolson tortoises, and bats in states ranging from New York to New Mexico. 

In the summer of 2020, Rebecca began a Masters of Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University. During this graduate program, she has had a keen focus on inclusion and diversity within environmental education and ecojustice. In August 2022, Rebecca completed her master's program and thesis on ecojustice, conservation, and the Upstate.

Rebecca lives in Greenville and enjoys the Upstate by sharing a brew or exploring the outdoors with her husband and two pups. 

Q: What is the best piece of advice for taking care of the Reedy River?

A: The best piece of advice that I have for taking care of the Reedy River is that no action is too small. Sometimes it can feel like an insurmountable task to restore and protect degraded ecosystems like the ones we see within the Reedy River Watershed. However, if there is one thing that I have learned during my time working with FoRR, is that if everyone takes even a small opportunity to pick up trash, make others in the community more aware of their actions, or to be more mindful of their actions like picking up pet waste, we have what it takes to improve this environment. I hope our organization empowers people to be part of the movement to improve the city that we love and the environment that makes this region feel like home.

Q: How did you get involved in this field/with FoRR?

A: I got involved with FoRR through my position as the Clean Water Specialist at Upstate Forever. At UF, there is a specific emphasis on the health of the Reedy River Watershed and immense opportunity to unite advocacy efforts by having me represent mutual interest and expertise on this board. Through my role at UF, there are many parts of my job that keep me behind a computer screen or in the office. So, I really enjoy the hands-on activities like invasive species pulls, river clean ups, etc. that get my hands dirty and out with the community. 

Q: What's your favorite place on the Reedy?



A: My favorite place along the Reedy is on the Swamp Rabbit Trail near Unity Park entering downtown. I spend every afternoon on the SRT walking or running with my husband and pups. It is such an amazing thing to be able to enjoy the Reedy River and other green spaces in Greenville.