Clean Air & Water
Protecting and Improving the Upstate’s Air and Water

Our Vision for the Upstate

• Our most pristine streams and wildest river reaches are preserved in their natural state
• Our river corridors benefit from careful stewardship by their owners
• Our floodplains are used for greenway trails, nature parks, and other flood-compatible uses
• Our rivers and streams run clean even when it rains
• Our lakes are clean, well-managed, and safe for fishing and swimming
• Our waters meet or exceed all federal and state standards
• Our air meets or exceeds all federal and state standards
• Our region has a view of the mountains year round

Our Clean Air & Water Program works in four focus areas:

The Urban Rivers Project focuses on changing the rules that govern development in the I-85 corridor to make it easier and more profitable to employ a river-friendly approach to growth.

The Rural Waters Project emphasizes the importance of mountain streams, piedmont rivers, and Upstate lakes to rural communities so that citizens and local governments act to protect and restore the quality and character of these waters.

The Air, Energy & Climate Project endeavors to improve air quality, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and use energy more efficiently in the Upstate by focusing on land use, transportation, and the competitive advantages to businesses of climate action.

The Statewide Water Resources Project is a statewide campaign to make water a key strategic issue, bridging the gap between our citizenry’s strong concern for water and our lack of public commitment to protecting it.

Guidelines for Advocacy Work: Clean Air & Water