Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium

05/22/2026

Memorial Day Weekend is filled with Cookouts, Boating, Activities, and more! Also, it can be full of misplaced waste from all the fun. As the holiday approaches, keep a few tips in mind to keep litter out of the environment we call home! Everyone loves Good Clean Fun 😁!

✅ Make sure to have a trash bag for any outdoor event. Secure bags to anything that will hold them in place until you are ready to toss them in the dumpster.

✅ Have a way to close trash bags fully to keep all trash in one place.🚮

✅ Reusable items like bottles, straws, and plates are key to having a low-waste event!

✅ Choose paper, compostable, or recyclable material when planning your gatherings. These items can be reduced, reused, and recycled.

✅ Keep in mind to secure items that can be swept up by the wind.🌬️

✅ If composting is your goal, make sure to place compostable items in a compost bin. Loose food litter will attract animals and cause a safety concern. 🍉🍎🥕🥦

✅ Plan ahead for when "Nature Calls" 🚽. Make sure to map out restroom locations and use them when you spot one.

05/22/2026

64.5 Pounds of litter 🚮were removed from the Rosemount Community earlier this week! South Carolina Aquarium kicked us off with understanding the importance of keeping a record of what is collected during a cleanup, and the Litter Journal is a great tool for that very need. Numbers clearly show the message when making a change in your community!💯

Litter Journal Link: https://www.anecdata.org/projects/view/122

📝 A Cleanup with no data will NOT make a lasting change📝

Thank you to Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities http://lamcnc.org/ for getting us all together to show love to the Beautiful Rosemount Community 🌊💙

05/06/2026

This month marks the start of Hurricane Preparedness Season. In a world of so many alerts, it can be hard to know where to start. Understanding the meaning of alerts can give you more confidence when creating your safety plan. Check out this video breaking down the weather alerts you may receive on your phone, in email, on news platforms, or even when chatting with a friend.

Make sure to share! We are only as strong as our community 💪🏾✨

Keep following for more tips on staying Above Water this Hurricane Season 🌀💙

For more information, visit NOAA National Weather Service
Link: https://www.weather.gov/lwx/warningsdefined

05/06/2026

Building on the progress of South Carolina’s State Water Plan and the launch of WaterSC by Governor Henry McMaster, the inaugural SCDES Water Summit will bring together the state’s leading water experts and stewards for a day of collaboration, learning, and connection.

South Carolina is blessed with abundant rivers, lakes, and aquifers—but rapid growth means we must plan ahead. Through data-driven, proactive planning, we can ensure these vital resources are protected for generations to come.

📅 Tuesday, May 19, 2026
🕣 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
📍 Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, S.C.

Join us as we work together to protect and preserve South Carolina’s water, now and into the future.
✨ Register today! des.sc.gov/WaterSummit

Agenda and additional details, including presenters, breakout topics, and lunch information, coming soon.

Because when we plan together, we protect what matters most: clean, abundant, life-giving water for every generation.

04/28/2026

Clemson Extension’s 4-H2O: Exploring Lowcountry Waterways.

This 5-day, hands-on science camp invites youth ages 9–18 to explore local waterways, learn about conservation, and connect with professionals working in environmental fields. From field activities to interactive lessons, campers will gain a deeper understanding of the Lowcountry’s unique ecosystems while having fun outdoors.

July 13–17
$150 (daily rates, multi-child discounts, and scholarships available)

Open to youth in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.

Register today: https://tinyurl.com/2026Camp4H20

Questions? Email [email protected]
or call/text 865-784-0516.

04/28/2026

Join Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium, Native Plants to the People, LLC, and The Junction Kitchen & Provisions for a hands-on Native Plant Container Garden Workshop. You’ll learn how to select the right native plants for containers, build healthy soil, and design containers that thrive while supporting pollinators and local ecosystems.

May 18 | 1–4 PM
Junction Kitchen, North Charleston
$25 (registration required)

Registration is required by May 15. Register at: https://nativecontainergarden.eventbrite.com

Questions? Contact Samantha at [email protected].

04/28/2026

Clemson Researchers need your help! Check out post for more details 🌊

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Clemson University focus group discussion on flooding in Charleson, SC on April 30. We ask that you please fill in the form below, so we can select participants to sign up for our focus group discussion. Please aim to sign up by 4/26. The researche...

04/15/2026

Join Adopt - A - Highway & Community Pride Charleston for a James Island Spring 🌸 Litter Cleanup

Cleanup Details ⬇️
Date: May 9th
Time: 9 am to 11 am
After Party: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

About the event
Litter isn't just an eyesore, it's a threat to our wildlife and aesthetic landscapes. From plastic in our waterways to trash on our roads, litter impacts our quality of life and local ecosystem. Let's take pride in our community and work together to restore it's natural beauty.
Post cleanup there will be an after party at the James Island town hall with live music, local vendors, free pizza (curtesy of Paisano's Pizza) and soda for volunteers. Camino Caffeino will also be on site for FREE caffeine fuel ups, so bring your mug! Best of all, raffle tickets will be given to volunteers who participate in the clean-up and the raffle will take place post clean-up at James Island Town Hall (must be present to win). Prizes include gift cards for Free Fly Apparel, Huriyali, Rain Barrel from Clemson Extension Carolina Clear plus lots more!

What will volunteers do?
Volunteers will help pick up litter and debris from along our roadways and waterways.

What will volunteers need to bring or wear?
Volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and comfortable clothing they wouldn't mind if got a little dirty.

What to bring: If you have reusable gloves bring them🧤
You might get thirsty so please bring a reusable water bottle.

Location: This event will be conducted along Riverland Drive and the James Island Connector. The Charleston / James Island Police Department will be on site to ensure it is a safe event. Exact meeting and working locations will be sent to registered volunteers the week prior to the event.

Sign up here: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/591020
This event is a part of the Greatest Charleston Cleanup event series.
Paisano's Pizza Grill Camino Caffeino Coffee James Island Pride Surfrider Foundation Charleston Chapter James Island PSD Fire Department James Island Exchange Club

Partners for this event include Keep Charleston Beautiful, James Island Pride, and Charleston Surfrider.

Join us for a James Island Spring 🌸 Litter Cleanup
Cleanup Details ⬇️
Date: May 9th
Time: 9 am to 11 am
After Party: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

About the event
Litter isn't just an eyesore, it's a threat to our wildlife and aesthetic landscapes. From plastic in our waterways to trash on our roads, litter impacts our quality of life and local ecosystem. Let's take pride in our community and work together to restore it's natural beauty.

Post cleanup there will be an after party at the James Island town hall with live music, local vendors, free pizza (curtesy of Paisano's Pizza) and soda for volunteers. Camino Caffeino will also be on site for FREE caffeine fuel ups, so bring your mug! Best of all, raffle tickets will be given to volunteers who participate in the clean-up and the raffle will take place post clean-up at James Island Town Hall (must be present to win). Prizes include gift cards for Free Fly Apparel, Huriyali, Rain Barrel from Clemson Extension Carolina Clear plus lots more!

What will volunteers do?
Volunteers will help pick up litter and debris from along our roadways and waterways.

What will volunteers need to bring or wear?
Volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and comfortable clothing they wouldn't mind if got a little dirty.

What to bring: If you have reusable gloves bring them🧤
You might get thirsty so please bring a reusable water bottle.

Location: This event will be conducted along Riverland Drive and the James Island Connector. The Charleston / James Island Police Department will be on site to ensure it is a safe event. Exact meeting and working locations will be sent to registered volunteers the week prior to the event.

Sign up here: https://dash.pointapp.org/events/591020

This event is a part of the Greatest Charleston Cleanup event series.
Paisano's Pizza Grill Camino Caffeino Coffee James Island Pride Surfrider Foundation Charleston Chapter James Island PSD Fire Department James Island Exchange Club

Partners for this event include Keep Charleston Beautiful, James Island Pride, and Charleston Surfrider.

04/13/2026

Are you interested in birding but don’t know where to begin? Join Clemson Extension's Tess Moody to learn how to get started! We’ll learn how to identify birds using field guides, binoculars, and the Merlin Bird ID App. After some time in the classroom, we’ll then walk around Ashley River Park to look for birds and practice new skills. Throughout our time together, we’ll discuss various approaches, ethical behaviors, and how to improve your birding skills over time. Make sure to dress for the weather because we’ll go out in the rain or shine, bring binoculars and field guides if you have them, and a desire to learn!

To learn more or register, visit https://dcprd.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=548

03/30/2026

Join Dorchester County Parks and Recreation and Clemson Extension Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium for a hands-on Pollinator Garden Workshop at Ashley River Park on Wednesday, April 8th. Participants will learn about the importance of native plants, how to select the right species for their garden, and simple steps they can take to make their yard or community space more pollinator-friendly.

Date: Wednesday, April 8th
Time: 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Location: Ashley River Park (200 Renken Road, Summerville, SC 29485)

Registration will remain open until 4 pm on Monday, April 6th or until the workshop is full. For more information and to register, visit https://AshleyRiverParkPollinator.eventbrite.com

For questions, please reach out to Samantha Porzelt at [email protected]

03/19/2026

Please be advised 🚨

Update: Santee Cooper Water Line Repaired Water quality testing is in process Posted March 18, 2026  |   Media Contact MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Early this morning, repairs were completed to the damaged main water line from Lake Moultrie Regional Water System serving Goose Creek, Summerville and p...