Protecting Land & Water | Advocacy | Balanced Growth
|
|
Welcome to
The Water Log
, Upstate Forever's new email newsletter dedicated to clean water issues and advocacy
|
Water is our planet's most precious natural resource, and Upstate Forever's
Clean Water team is working to safeguard both the quantity and quality of water in our region.
We advocate at the local, state, and federal levels to advance policies that protect our drinking water, as well as the places we love to fish, hunt, swim, and explore.
After a year in my role as Clean Water Advocate at Upstate Forever, I’ve seen firsthand
the collective power of all our voices in advancing conservation goals with utilities, local governments, regulators, and at the Statehouse. I hope this newsletter serves as a resource for you to stay informed about clean water issues and equips you with the tools needed to become an advocate for our region's precious water resources.
|
|
Megan Chase
Clean Water Advocate, Upstate Forever
|
|
P.S. If you know someone who might also like to receive this newsletter, please send them to this link to sign up:
upstateforever.org/email
P.P.S. Join me to eat oysters and talk to legislators on March 24th. Scroll down for more information.
|
|
After the Flood: Changing views on floodwater policy
|
|
While massive flood events (like this one on the Reedy on Feb 6, 2020) cause some locals to want to throw caution to the wind and barrel down the falls in a
in a kayak,
the rest of us are wondering what can be done to slow down floodwaters.
|
|
The link between Upstate growth and downstream flooding
Recent flooding around the Upstate has sparked a conversation about how land use and rapid growth have led to increased runoff from storm events. Erika Hollis, our Clean Water Director, talked about this connection and local efforts to curb flooding impacts in a recent article in the Greenville Journal:
How will development impact future flooding and water quality?
Experts working to reduce flooding in SC
South Carolina has experienced four catastrophic flood events following hurricanes and tropical storms since 2015 (Joaquin, Matthew, Irma, and Florence), and this trend is expected to continue. With rising sea levels and a dramatic loss in areas that provide natural floodwater retention, South Carolina has seen unprecedented flooding in both coastal and inland communities. The
South Carolina Floodwater Commission
was created in 2018 to respond to growing floodwater issues throughout our state.
|
|
National water policy news: Attacks on the Clean Water Act
The EPA’s recent attacks on the Clean Water Act have made national headlines, leaving many of us wondering how this impacts our local waterways and drinking water sources. The short of it:
Our water resources are left vulnerable by these rollbacks.
|
|
Join me for the Lobby Day Oyster Roast!
Join us at the Statehouse for the
2020 Conservation Lobby Day and Oyster Roast on March 24th. Hosted by the
SC Conservation Coalition, this event is an opportunity to get to know your legislators and speak to them about issues that matter most to you. This will be a good year to lobby on clean energy, offshore drilling, and clean water. Upstate Forever will be coordinating carpools to/from the Upstate. Find out more about this event and
register here.
|
|
Let your voice be heard
Protection of our waterways is only possible with the support from citizens across the Upstate, and there are
many ways to get involved:
1)
We are all responsible for the health of our waterways. Help monitor your local waterways by becoming a citizen scientist through SC’s Adopt-a-Stream program or by keeping a log of what’s happening in your local creek, river, wetland, or lake.
Click here to learn more about citizen science opportunities.
2)
Attend your local city and county council meetings to voice your opinion on proposals and plans that affect water quality. Remember, many policies governing how we manage land, construction, and transportation can impact our local waterways in major ways.
3) Tell your state representatives about the water issues that matter to you and your community. Our state legislators like to hear from their constituents – and this is an election year, so they will be paying attention.
Use this link to find out who represents you.
4)
Be on the lookout for alerts from Upstate Forever and our partner organizations when action is needed on issues affecting our water resources. Action could be in the form of writing to your elected leaders or state agencies, showing up to city and county council meetings, signing on to petitions, and even joining us at the Statehouse.
|
|
Click the icons below to learn more about our work
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|