The Reedy Recap

Friends of the Reedy River

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities

The Children's Museum of the Upstate Spring & Sprout : April 7

FoRR is participating in the TCMU Spring & Sprout event this Friday. This is a fun and educational opportunity for families to celebrate spring with special themed programming around earth and water conservation, museum play, and of course - a visit from the Easter Bunny! We are looking forward to making new connections with the next generation of conservationists and teaching them about how to keep our watershed healthy and clean.

Water Quality Monitoring Outings: April 17 and TBD

The Greenville water quality monitoring team will head to the river for water quality sampling on Monday, April 17. The Simpsonville team's outing date is TBD, but will be around the same time. Updates will be announced on our social media and in our Monitoring Team Email. Please contact us if you are interested in joining and Join Our Monitoring Team to receive future updates!

Conestee Nature Preserve Great Blue Gathering: April 21

Please consider supporting our friends at Conestee Nature Preserve by attending their upcoming Great Blue Gathering fundraiser! Learn more & buy your tickets today! 

Adopt-a-Stream Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: April 28

FORR will be hosting a Freshwater Monitoring SC Adopt-a-Stream workshop on Friday, April 28 at the Cancer Survivors Park Center for Hope and Healing. Join Our Monitoring Team today to receive first access to register for this workshop!

Save the Date: BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament: June 5-11

The BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament is the week of June 5th. FoRR will be once again leading the Green Team volunteers in their efforts to operate as a zero-waste event! Stay tuned to learn how to volunteer with the Green Team soon!

Month In Review...

April 1

2023 Spring River Cleanup

Thank you to all of our awesome volunteers who came out to remove litter from our river and the surrounding areas on Saturday, April 1. We at FORR truly appreciate your support and dedication.

A Special Note to our Spring Cleanup volunteers from FORR’s Board President, Scott Butler:

 There's an old motto that refers to the commitment and reliability of the U.S. mail service that goes, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor dark of night . . ." Granted, we didn't have snow or heat; but Saturday morning started out so dark and rainy that we didn't know what to expect for our Spring Cleanup. And we definitely couldn't have hoped for the sort of turn out that YOU ALL gave us. You blew us away!

You proved your commitment, reliability, dedication, and enthusiasm for supporting FoRR's efforts on behalf of our special Reedy River. We DO have THE BEST volunteers . . . hands down.

"Thank you" never seems adequate and, yet, no other words are better to express my appreciation to you all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We would also like to thank our presenting sponsor, Dapper Ink, for their partnership, support, and participation in the 2023 Spring River Cleanup.

We are still tallying up our total trash collection counts, so please stay tuned to our Instagram and Facebook pages to hear more about our success soon! 

Ongoing Call to Action:

Lake Conestee Dam

Our friends at the Conestee Foundation need your support. The health of the Reedy River is deeply entwined with the Conestee Dam, which was built around 1892 and is located just 4 miles south of downtown Greenville. This aged dam holds back toxic sediments from industrial wastes and discharges; if it fails, downstream water quality is at immediate risk. 



State representatives have proposed legislation to fully fund the design and construction of a new dam. The SC House has already approved the $48 million for this project; now we need the SC Senate to do the same. Once both houses have approved the project funds, we need Governor McMaster to sign the legislation.

Reach out to your state Senator today and voice your support for this important project.

More information on the Conestee Dam and the remediation project can be found here.

Board Member Highlight

Keith Lloyd

Keith Lloyd is a native Greenvillian and an alumnus of Clemson University, Greenville High School, and the Fine Arts Center. His professional background includes eight years as manager of the tennis center at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center, the Salavation Army's extensive complex located on the banks of the Reedy and adjacent to the site of the new Unity Park. He now serves on the marketing team of Dunlop Sports Group, the international manufacturer of racket sports equipment, with offices in the former Brandon Mill. When he is not working, you can find him running on the Swamp Rabbit Trail or on the soccer fields at the Kroc Center, where he still plays competitively and where he also coaches at the youth level. 

Q: How did you get involved in this field/with FoRR?

A: My first involvement with FoRR occurred years before I came to join the board. At the time, my Dad was on the board and asked if I would be willing to dress up as Vardry McBee for a few events – the first was at a Saturday Market and the second was at FoRR night at the Greenville Drive game. Because of the heat, I only lasted three innings at the Drive game. I did manage to get on the dugout and shake some tail feathers before I left.

A few years later, Mary Hipp approached me about joining the board. Having grown up a stone’s throw from the river I figured it would be a good opportunity to give back to the community. While I have limited scientific background, I am passionate about the area I call home and the Reedy happens to cut right down the middle of it.

Q: What is the most fun part-time job you’ve ever had?

A: This is an easy one, coaching soccer at the youth level. I’ve been employed by the Ray and Joan Kroc Center (right along the Reedy River) for over a decade in either a part-time or a full-time position. Since taking my current job with Dunlop Sports I have maintained a part-time role at the Kroc Center as a youth soccer coach. Having been involved with the program since it’s inception, I am particularly passionate about the direction of the program and the impact it has on the players who participate. I am currently coaching two teams, a U14 team (Titans) and a U12 team (the team name is still up for debate).

Q: What is your favorite place on the Reedy?

A: I would have to say anywhere along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Especially if I’m on my bike. As a cyclist, the Swamp Rabbit Trail is a dream outlet to the beautiful rolling hills north of Greenville. Whether I am hopping on to get quick access to a Paris Mountain climb or spinning all the way down for a longer loop, the Swamp Rabbit Trail offers quick and safe access - all the more reason to keep the Reedy beautiful.