Stormwater and flooding tools for Upstate residents

Our region has almost met its average annual rainfall for the year — with the remainder of hurricane season and autumn storms still to come. 

All of that rain has made concerns about stormwater and flooding top-of-mind for many Upstate residents. Wondering what you can do on your property to prevent flooding and sediment runoff into nearby waterways? Consider ways to slow the flow of water and increase the amount that goes back into the soil.

A great local resource is Carolina Clear, a Clemson Extension program that provides stormwater education, outreach, workshops, and public involvement opportunities, including a guide to managing water in the home landscape.

Clemson’s Stream Bank Repair Program is another resource for homeowners, land managers, park staff and landscape professionals looking to address erosion and instability on stream banks and riparian areas. While in-person workshops have been postponed, they are planning to host webinars this Fall/Winter and will continue to share resources through their website and newsletter.

This online interactive tool allows you to enter your address and information about your property to determine best management practices to reduce runoff. It walks you through how to figure out where stormwater is generated, how it flows, and how much stormwater comes from your property.

Lastly, this tool will help you determine the flood risk of your property and neighborhood, and will provide guidance on local solutions you can advocate for within your community.

For more information like this and to stay up-to-date with the latest news and alerts from Upstate Forever and our partners, visit upstateforever.org/email to sign up to receive the Water Log, our email newsletter dedicated to Clean Water issues.

Megan Chase is the Clean Water Advocate at Upstate Forever and can be reached at mchase@upstateforever.org.