More than 800 acres recently protected

We’re pleased to share news of more than 800 acres now permanently protected in Laurens and Union counties through three new conservation easements! Together, Thomason Farm, Santuc Farm, and Oak Grove Farm Mitigation Bank protect working farmland and forests, clean water, wildlife habitat, and the rural character of communities experiencing increasing development pressure.

These projects also demonstrate the many ways landowners can choose to conserve the places they care about. From keeping family farms in agricultural use for generations to restoring streams and wetlands that benefit entire watersheds, each project contributes to a healthier, more resilient Upstate.

Brews & Big Ideas on Tuesday!

Enjoy a beer on us on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 5:30-7:00 pm at Holliday Brewing in Inman — located along the future Saluda Grade Trail! You'll have a chance to meet our team, connect with others who care about the Upstate, and exchange big ideas about advocacy and conservation. Register now

Workday next Saturday

Please join UF staff, volunteers, and the City of Easley at Nalley Brown Nature Park on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm to help remove non-native invasive plant species and improve wildlife habitat at this protected property and public park. No gear or experience required! Register now

Act now: Anderson gas plant

The public comment period is now open as SCDES considers an air permit for Duke Energy Carolinas’ proposed gas plant in Anderson. There are two important opportunities to learn more and make your voice heard — tune in to an advocacy training webinar at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and attend the PSC public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 pm in Anderson. Learn more

Major Planning Academy milestone

Our Land Planning & Policy team recently celebrated a major milestone for the Citizens Planning Academy: 10 graduating Academy cohorts! Since the Academy began in 2019, hundreds of Greenville residents have completed this free program with the knowledge and tools to better understand, engage in, and help shape local land use planning and policy decisions. Learn more

Request for Qualifications: Water quality monitoring services

Our Clean Water program has been awarded a grant from The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program within the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). The grant is formally titled “Protecting Drinking Water: Addressing Emerging Contaminants in the Upper Savannah River Basin" and will address the impacts of emerging contaminants on drinking water sources in small or disadvantaged communities within the Upper Savannah River Basin. 

UF is seeking an experienced consultant to advise and implement the investigative water sampling component of the grant scope to characterize current conditions and potential pollutant sources in the project area surrounding Lake Hartwell. UF is working cooperatively with two Upstate drinking water utilities — Anderson Regional Joint Water System and Pioneer Rural Water District — to protect and enhance drinking water quality by evaluating and addressing key indicators and contributors to E. coli and cyanotoxins that adversely affect source water used by both utilities.  

All submissions must be received no later than 5:00 pm on October 2, 2026. For more information, including how to submit, click here.

Disclaimer: This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 04D00424 to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the Environmental Protection Agency endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document, as well as any images, video, text, or other content created by generative artificial intelligence tools, nor does any such content necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Staff updates & upcoming events

Happy anniversary, Morgan!

Please join us in celebrating Development Director Morgan Martin on her second anniversary with Upstate Forever! Since joining our team in 2024, Morgan has led our development efforts, working closely with our Executive Director, Board of Directors, donors, and supporters to advance UF's mission. With more than 15 years of development experience spanning major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, prospect management, and donor relations, she brings a wealth of experience to her work. Thank you for all you do, Morgan!

More upcoming events

National Scenic Byway Day Events - Tuesday, September 22, 3:00 - 6:00 PM, Pleasant Ridge Park (4232 Hwy 11, Marietta) | Celebrate National Scenic Byway Day with a volunteer litter cleanup along Highway 11 from 3:00–4:30 PM, followed by a drop-in public workshop on scenic preservation and resilience from 4:30–6:00 PM. UF will join local partners to share information about land conservation easements and other ways residents can help protect the scenic character of the corridor. Learn more

Upstate Forever Annual Meeting - Sunday, October 4, 2:00 - 5:00 PM, Elk Leaf Farm (141 N Campbell Road, Landrum) | Join us for this fun, family-friendly celebration of progress made in 2025. Register here

Wild & Scenic Film Festival - Saturday, October 10, 7:00 - 9:30 PM, Camelot Cinemas (48 E Antrim Drive, Greenville) | Enjoy an evening of award-winning environmental and adventure films celebrating nature, conservation, and communities around the world. This ticketed event will benefit the Clemson University Natural Resources Graduate Student Association and Save Our Saluda. Purchase tickets

Volunteer Workday: Rocky River Nature Park - Thursday, October 22, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1311 Old Williamston Rd, Anderson, SC 29621 | Help us remove non-native invasive plant species to enhance foraging and nesting areas for native wildlife and migratory species on this protected property. Register here

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.