Fret not if you haven't had a chance to get your hands on one of our new Upstate Forever t-shirts — they were such a hit that we ordered a second run of t-shirts from Dapper Ink. They're now back in stock!

You can show your pride for this remarkable region we call home — and support our work to protect the Upstate's natural resources — by making a gift of $35 or more at upstateforever.org/donate. While supplies last, we'll send you a new tee in your choice of cream or sage green featuring a custom illustration of native flora and fauna by local artist Carissa Grace.

We've begun a land management project with the City of Westminster to control kudzu on the Chau Ram Expansion property near Chau Ram County Park. Removing an established stand of kudzu can take several years of diligent treatment but will result in a healthier, more biodiverse habitat. You can join this work at our volunteer workday on Saturday, October 8 — details here.

Upstate Forever is a member of the Anderson County Watershed Protection Council, which is seeking grant applications for projects that will protect or restore water quality in areas of the Savannah River watershed impacted by Kinder Morgan’s 2014 petroleum pipeline spill. Education and outreach grants, as well as funds for site remediation and land protection, are available. Learn more

It's no secret that communities across the Upstate are growing rapidly — and that pace of growth has only increased since the start of the pandemic. If you are a City of Greenville or County resident, or just care about balancing growth with the protection of natural resources and community vibrancy, now is the time to get involved!

Visit upstateforever.org/email and opt in to join the Greenville County Land Planning & Policy Issues email list. Our staff will send timely information, updates, and action alerts regarding the City of Greenville and Greenville County.

The City has launched a once-in-a-decade process to overhaul its zoning and land development regulations — the primary tools determining how and where growth takes place within City limits. Land Policy Manager Sherry Barrett spoke to WSPA News 7 last week about the land preservation goal laid out in the City's comprehensive plan and strategies beyond the Development Code that will be necessary to reach that goal.

Our Citizens Planning Academy is an interactive course designed to help Greenville residents, business owners, and neighborhood leaders understand processes that drive local planning and land use policy decisions as well as the roles and perspectives of diverse stakeholders. This fall, the course will return to its pre-pandemic format with four weekly sessions occurring in September and October — stay tuned for more information and the application launching on August 3!

Our team engages in municipalities across the Upstate where residents, officials, and communities are looking to grow responsibly. Click here to sign up for Planning & Growth Updates for Spartanburg County via email, and follow us on social media for more land use planning and policy news.

You've signed up to receive this "Upstate Update," our monthly email newsletter, but perhaps you'd like more frequent news and info from our team. For real-time updates and more, follow Upstate Forever on your social network of preference: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and/or TikTok.

Join UF staff for a postcard-writing happy hour at Liability Brewing (109 West Stone Avenue, Ste. D, Greenville, SC 29609) from 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 23. Drop by to learn about key issues impacting conservation and sustainable growth in the Upstate directly from our program staff — and how you can advocate for a better future. RSVP and your first drink is on us!

Duke Energy is seeking approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to continue operating the Bad Creek Pumped Storage Project near Lake Jocassee for the next 30-50 years. We look forward to working with Duke Energy and other stakeholders to ensure that the new license provides for the protection, restoration, and mitigation of the natural resources within the Upper Savannah Watershed, specifically water quality and quantity, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation resources and opportunities, and land conservation. We have submitted comments to FERC regarding the Bad Creek Project relicensing and will remain engaged as the process moves forward.

By including Upstate Forever in your will, trust, or estate plans, you can help safeguard the Upstate's natural resources and protect our region's high quality of life for future generations. If you are interested in learning more about planned gift options, please contact Aldon Knight, Director of Development and Community Relations, aknight@upstateforever.org or (706) 410-5896.

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.

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