Watershed Field Trips & Seminars

As part of the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium, Upstate Forever is proud to offer a series of field trips on water quality and river conservation as well as custom trips and seminars specially designed for groups and organizations interested in learning about water quality issues in the Saluda Reedy Watershed.

Our water quality and river conservation field trips offer the general public a chance to experience the natural beauty of the Upstate while learning more about how they can help protect water quality. Join us this winter and spring as we visit waterfalls, hike and fish along a trout stream, and paddle the scenic Saluda River. For more information or to register, please contact us.

Our custom designed trips and seminars are designed to help attendees from a variety of professions develop the skills for and augment their knowledge about watershed conservation. With topics ranging from low cost and functional stormwater managment solutions to an introduction to public greenways along river corridors, we are prepared to offer field trips and seminars that address many of the issues within the Saluda-Reedy watershed. Please see our list of potential topics or contact us if you are interested in any topic not may not be included below.

Upstate Forever, in cooperation with the Greenville Homebuilders Association, will also offer a low impact development breakfast seminar series in 2007. Developed specifically with homebuilders in mind, this bimonthly breakfast series will be an opportunity for homebuilders and developers to gain additional knowledge about oportunities for improving and managing water quality while improving asthetics and saving on costs. See below for more information and proposed topics.

All programs are offered free of charge and we encourage both individuals and groups with an interest in water quality or watershed conservation to contact us for more information.

Upcoming Water Quality Outings

April 14 – Saluda Scenic Paddle 
Join us for a leisurely paddle down a pristine stretch of the Saluda River.  We’ll learn what a "blueway" is all about and how it might work in our region.

For more information regarding upcoming outings or to register for a field trip, please contact us or click here for Upcoming Events.

Custom designed field trips and seminars

We are prepared to offer field trips and seminars that focus on a variety of water quality issues throughout the Saluda-Reedy Watershed, including:

1. Stormwater and erosion control best management practices (BMPs)
2. Attractive and functional stormwater managment facilities
3. Water conservation/recovery opportunities in environmentally sustainable buildings
4. General threats and solutions to water qualitity problems in various municipalities thorughout the watershed
5. Traditional neighborhood (village) design and associated water quality benefits
6. Maintaining the natural functions and benefits of river corridors while providing a public assett
7. Low cost opportunities for reducing impervious cover

For examples of other custom field trips and seminars or to design an event, please contact us.

Low Impact Development Breakfast Series

Designed in cooperation with the Greenville Home Builders Association, Upstate Forever is offering a bimonthly breakfast seminar series on low impact development practices and associated benefits. Click here for more information about this series.

Each breakfast seminar will focus on a particular aspect of low impact development, outlining the water quality and economic benefits of incoporating a particular low impact feature at a site.

Professionals with in-depth knowledge of low impact development as it relates to water quality issues will lead each session. They will present concise, carefully targeted information with well-designed accompanying handouts that summarize key issues and provide essential background.

Breakfast and any needed materials will be provided free of charge for all attendees.

For information regarding upcoming dates, please contact us or click here for Upcoming Events.

Past Watershed Tours & Field Trips

Since 2004, the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium partners have hosted several half-day and day-long watershed tours and field trips that introduced community leaders and business leaders to a variety of issues related to watershed conservation. Click here to learn more about the past watershed tours and other events.