The Upstate Update: January 2023

The Upstate Update is a digital newsletter curated and shared each month that offers insights into Upstate Forever's recent work, highlights upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, and shares other conservation and advocacy news.

We post the Upstate Update here on the Upstate Forever blog each month. If you would like to receive the Upstate Update directly in your email inbox, please sign up for the mailing list.

2022 in review

In case you missed it, 2022 was a momentous year for conservation in the Upstate. Here are a few of the highlights...

• Our Land Conservation team finalized permanent protections on important properties like the Tyger River Confluence at Nesbitt Shoals in Spartanburg County and Soapstone Baptist Church and grounds in Pickens County (Psst! Stay tuned for upcoming news on more recently protected properties)
• Alongside partners, we are continuing work on an effort to purchase and transform the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor into a nearly 31-mile rail trail connecting the Western Carolinas
• Our Clean Water team worked with 40 landowners to implement water quality improvement projects in the Tyger River (Greenville and Spartanburg Counties) and Three & Twenty Creek Watersheds (Anderson and Pickens Counties)
• We equipped residents to participate in local planning processes through the inaugural Advocacy Training 101 workshop, latest Citizens Planning Academy series, and postcard-writing happy hour
• Our Energy and State Policy team members worked alongside partners at the Statehouse to lobby for and help pass eight bills that will strengthen protections against hazardous waste and unnecessary pipelines, bolster solar and wind industries, and give counties more tools for local land conservation

But that's not all! Click here to find more conservation successes from 2022 and, as always, stay tuned for more news and updates from our team.

Read this month's newsletter

Also in this month's newsletter:

• Seeking Stewardship Coordinator
  Would you like to play an important role in the ongoing protection of our region's farms, forests, habitats, and waterways? We're looking for a Land Stewardship Coordinator to fill a critical role in UF's Land Conservation program. This full-time, hybrid-remote position can be based out of our Greenville or Spartanburg offices with travel throughout the 10-county Upstate region. Learn more & apply by Feb. 3

• RSVP: Keowee Watershed Meeting
  You're invited to the Keowee Watershed Protection Meeting on Thursday, February 9 from 5-7 pm. You'll get to know the Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team, learn about Keowee as a source for drinking water, the SCDHEC 319 grant and septic program, and more. Light refreshments will be provided, so please RSVP to sferguson@lkswpt.org by January 26!

• We are grateful for local partners
  Our work to protect the Upstate's special places would not be possible without the support of generous local partners. Please join us in thanking the staff and patrons of:

  • We are honored to have again been selected as the local beneficiary of the Fairway Subaru Share the Love campaign during the holiday season! Stay tuned as the results of that campaign are revealed this spring.
  • Garner's Natural Life stores in Greenville hosted a roundup campaign benefitting in UF in December. Shoppers had the opportunity to round their total up to the nearest dollar with the money donated to support our work — resulting in a donation of more than $500!
  • Fireforge Crafted Beer has selected UF for a roundup campaign for the first quarter of 2023. Guests at this Greenville brewery will be able to round up their tab through March 31 to support our work. Thank you!

And more! 

Read this month's newsletter