Our team

Upstate Forever Staff

Chris Starker

Chris Starker

Land Conservation Manager

Chris received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Photography from the University of South Carolina and earned his masters degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from Clemson University before joining Upstate Forever’s Clean Water program in 2009. During his time in the Clean Water program, he worked on projects related to low-impact development practices, riparian buffer protection, and watershed protection strategies.

He has been actively educating the public on lake-related water quality issues, including point-source and non-point source pollution such as stormwater management and nutrient reduction, and other general lake management issues and legislation. In addition, he participated in Duke Energy’s Keowee-Toxaway Relicensing Project, worked to address the PCB contamination of Lake Hartwell, led a water quality improvement project in the Walnut Creek watershed near Ware Shoals in Laurens County, and implemented green infrastructure projects in the South Pacolet Watershed in Spartanburg County. Chris joined the Land Conservation Program in 2016.

When he’s not in the office, Chris likes to explore the mountains, lakes, and local parks with his family. He also enjoys climbing, skiing, backpacking, and birding, and sometimes when he’s feeling less active he’ll play the guitar or read a book.

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