Watershed Leaders Forums

In 2005 the Consortium and the Appalachian and Upper Savannah Councils of Government began working together to offer a series of half-day seminars -- Watershed Leaders Forums -- for community leaders on water resource management issues of particular interest to the Upstate. Each Watershed Leaders Forum covers a specific topic in a concise, information-rich format, and all participants go home with a 10- to 20-page summary of the issue covered at the Forum. In addition, each Forum includes a 30- to 45-minute networking intermission with hors d'oeuvres and drinks, which provides participants with an opportunity to meet other community leaders with an interest in similar issues.

The Watershed Leaders Forums are for community leaders of all kinds, from local government officials to business executives to concerned community residents.  Invitations will go out to a wide range of community leaders prior to each forum, but anyone who is concerned about the future of our rivers and lakes is welcome to attend.  Please contact Jason Van Driesche by e-mail or at 864-250-0500 ext. 22 to register.

Topics for upcoming forums may include:

• Streams on the Cheap:
  Low-cost stream restoration techniques for developers and municipalities
• 21st Century Sewers:
  Developing an action plan for prioritizing and financing sewer line upgrades
• A Legacy of Waste:
  Containing, managing, and cleaning up abandoned floodplain industrial sites
• Water Between Rivers:
  The legalities, practicalities, and ecology of interbasin transfers
• Taking it to the Bank:
  The benefits of stream mitigation banking for communities, developers, and the environment
• Playing in the Water:
  Strategies and amenities for building a river-based tourism industry in the Upstate