Watershed Outreach & Advocacy

Though the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium’s work has as its foundation a broad range of original research projects, we don’t stop at creating maps and publishing reports. We use that foundation of sound science as the basis for a wide variety of watershed advocacy programs and outreach materials, from roundtables with local government officials on water quality protection efforts to an educational display that travels throughout the watershed.

Watershed Advocacy Programs

• Our Low-impact Development program works with community leaders and planning departments to identify opportunities to introduce flexibility to paving standard in our region in order to reduce the amount of roads and parking lots generated by new development.

• Our Stormwater Management & Erosion Control program evaluates a range of techniques for improving stormwater management and promotes some of them, such as constructed wetlands and rain gardens, at demonstration sites throughout the Upstate.

• Our Floodplains, Greenways and Lakeshores program examines the opportunities communities have to turn floodplains into community assets, such as parks and greenways; promotes the development of a Reedy River Greenway in Greenville; and supports lakeshore homeowners' efforts to maintain water quality through sound development along our lakeshores.

• Our Pristine Streams & Wild River Reaches program promotes the benefits of having clean and wild streams in our headwaters while working with a variety of stakeholders - from kayakers to anglers to hikers - to protect these valuable resources.

• Our Field Trips allow members of the general public to experience the natural beauty of the Upstate while learning how they can help protect water quality while our Seminars enable attendees from a variety of professions increase their knowledge about watershed conservation in our region.

• Our quarterly Watershed Leaders Forums, co-sponsored by the Appalachian and Upper Savannah Councils of Government, and Upstate Forever, provide community leaders with half-day seminars where they can learn more about a specific water resource management issue.

Watershed Outreach Materials

• A quarterly newsletter on current Consortium research and activities as well as general watershed news, published in both print and electronic format.

• A full-color brochure explaining the challenges of protecting the watershed and a map of sites.

• A full-color educational display about how individual and local actions can help protect our local rivers and lakes.

• A series of 12 watershed stickers with inspirational pictures of some of our watershed's most beautiful places.

• A series of three watershed coasters with a colorful photograph on one side and ‘Fast Facts' about our watershed on the other.

• A Watershed Speakers Bureau that can present Welcome to Your Watershed to your local civic group or organization.