advocates for quality development

FOLKS

• Focus: Water quality protections including sound infrastructure and managed growth and development 
• Members:  Property owners and Home Owner Associations in Oconee & Pickens Counties

Activity Examples: 

• Argues for sound land use before official county bodies & other planning venues.
• Vigorously defends zoning protections for lake and other communities.
• Actively interfaces w/Duke Energy & other stakeholders regarding Keowee Toxaway concerns.
• Provides input to variance & special exception requests before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Secures professional help as needed to protect lake community interests.

MLCA

• Focus: Helps HOAs/POAs deal with common problems, community issues and legislation that impact the lakes, property values and lifestyle  
• Members:  HOAs/POAs on or near Lakes Keowee and Hartwell in Oconee, western Pickens, and northern Anderson counties

Activity Examples

• Through workshops, seminars and surveys shares information on covenants, compliance, purchasing, accounting, landscaping, security, legal matters & other neighborhood issues
• Provides a unified voice to speak out on local and state issues that impact homeowner associations such as required HOA government reporting and fees, property taxes, and proposed/ pending legislation

LKSWPT

• Focus:  Preserving the Lake Keowee and Jocassee Watersheds by identifying and monitoring the water quality of the two lakes. The LKSWPT was formed and is funded by Duke Energy. The team’s specific objective is to undertake activities to protect, maintain, and improve water quality in the watershed by addressing both existing water quality issues and also identifying problems that could occur as the area continues to develop
• Members:   The LKSWPT consists of seven members: Greenville Water; Seneca Light & Water; Oconee County; Pickens County; Upstate Forever; Friends of lake Keowee Society (FOLKS); and Advocates for Quality Development (AQD)
• Advisory Board Members: Duke Energy (as the owner of Lakes Keowee and Jocassee) and Clemson Center for Watershed Excellence

Activity Examples

• Adopt-a-Stream Program
• Watershed Based Plan Development for Cane and Little Creek, and Little River and Keowee River
• Surface Water Monitoring with Clemson University Center for Watershed Excellence

Upstate Forever

• Focus:  Protect of critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina 
• Members: Landowners, community organizations, and stakeholder businesses

Activity Examples

• Playing a key role in securing and opening of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, which has revolutionized Greenville and Travelers Rest
• Preventing a coal ash landfill in Pickens County and a mega-landfill in Spartanburg County
• Mobilizing public opposition to stop Duke Energy’s proposed substation and transmission line across the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Protecting more than 25,000 acres on 130 properties across the Upstate through voluntary land easement as the first nationally accredited land trust organization in South Carolina

Keep Oconee Beautiful Association

• A nonprofit whose mission is to restore and maintain the natural beauty of Oconee County
• We do this through EDUCATION, AWARENESS, COOPERATION, and ACTION.
• Since 1985, KOBA has been an integral part of pursuing a litter-free environment
  in the county through various programs.

Activity Examples

•  Adopt-A-Highway
• Elementary school litter-prevention educational programs
• Saturday litter pickups,
  participation in the Great American CleanUp Day, and more.