Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium

10/20/2026

NEW RESOURCE: Explore the Carolina Rain Garden Initiative Demonstration Sites Page!

Are you planning to install a rain garden or rainwater harvesting system this fall and want to see an example of an established site? A new Demonstration Sites tab has been added to the Carolina Rain Garden Initiative page!

Visit the new webpage to explore established public demonstration sites throughout the Lowcountry and Upstate regions. These examples are a great way to see how rain gardens and rainwater harvesting systems function in real-world settings and gather inspiration for your own project!

Visit the demonstration sites page: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/raingarden/demo-site.html

Interested in becoming a Master Rain Gardener? The Master Rain Gardener course is currently being updated, and our next offering will be the Spring 2027 online-only Letter of Completion track! Registration will open this December. Learn more about the course, curriculum, and program requirements here:
clemson.edu/raingardens

To be notified when registration opens for future course offerings, contact Master Rain Gardener Program Coordinator Samantha Porzelt at [email protected]

10/14/2026

‼️The Citizens Services Desk webpage just got an upgrade ⬆️ Follow the shared post for more or visit https://www.charleston-sc.gov/1884/Citizen-Services-Desk to see the changes for yourself.

Love how you can view request types when submitting a service need. 😉

The official website of the City of Charleston, South Carolina. Find city services, pay bills, view council agendas, apply for permits, and access resources for residents, businesses, and visitors.

09/16/2026

Protecting Your Drains Protects your Whole system! Flush only septic-safe toilet paper, human waste, and septic-safe cleaners in your bathroom. 🚫No wipes should be allowed down the drain. F.O.G (Fats, Oils, and grease), food scraps, and harsh chemicals can disrupt your septic tank's natural balance and clog your lines. Properly dispose of all items above in the trash, composting, or recycling.

Stick to the essentials down the drain to keep your system healthy for years to come. Check out the full FAQ guide at Be Septic Safe. 🚰

Follow Dorchester County Clemson Extension Service and Lowcountry Stormwater Partners - We are Neighbors for Clean Water for more water-related programs in your area!

09/16/2026

It is Septic Smart Week!
Check out this great opportunity:

09/15/2026

Flooding on your home landscape is not the time to forget about your Septic System. Watch “Be Septic Safe”: Flooding Impacts to learn ways to protect your septic system when waters rise. ⛈️🌊

Visit “Be Septic Safe” with Clemson Extension Carolina Clear for more water quality information.

09/14/2026

Check out this great opportunity to help keep our community clean!

🌴 2nd Annual Johns Island Community Cleanup

Adopt A Highway will once again teaming up with Keep Charleston Beautiful, the Charleston Police Department, and local community members for another fun filled Johns Island cleanup (You don’t have to live on Johns Island to participate) ❤️

Litter doesn’t stay in one place. Whether it’s on a roadside, in a parking lot, or along our waterways, it can eventually make its way into our creeks, rivers, and ocean. Keeping our community clean is also one small but important way we can protect the marine environment we all love.

So, if you’re free, come join us! Bring a friend, bring the family, or come meet some fellow Adopt - A - Highway & Community Pride Charleston volunteers. Every set of hands makes a difference.

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM
📍 Johns Island — exact cleaning locations will be emailed the week before

👉 All supplies are provided
Volunteers will clean multiple heavily littered areas throughout Johns Island. The Charleston Police Department will provide on-site support to help keep everyone safe.

👉 Registration is required:
Sign up for the Johns Island Cleanup

09/01/2026

Today, catch us on Ohm Radio 96.3 FM (https://www.ohmradio963.org/) Live & Local!
...Because we still have Rain Barrels to sell ‼️ & the pre-order link will be extended 😄, but please don't wait.

ACSEC 🌧️Rain Barrel Sale Pre-orders are now open‼️
https://www.rainwatersolutions.com/products/acsec-ivy

The Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium (ACSEC), in partnership with Rainwater Solutions, is offering high-quality 50-gallon rain barrels at a special discounted price to help residents conserve water and protect our local waterways.

As many areas across South Carolina continue to experience periods of drought and increasing water demands, capturing rainwater is a simple, effective way to conserve one of our most valuable natural resources.

Rain barrels help reduce reliance on municipal water for outdoor irrigation while also decreasing stormwater runoff that can carry pollutants into local creeks, rivers, and marshes. Every gallon collected makes a difference.

Pre-Order Still Open
Special Price: $83 (regularly $159)

Each rain barrel includes:
- 50-gallon rain barrel
- Installation kit
- Mesh screen on lid to help keep mosquitoes out

Reserve your rain barrel today by visiting:
https://www.rainwatersolutions.com/products/acsec-ivy

Target Audience: The citizens of Charleston and Dorchester Counties, Cities of Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Charleston, North Charleston, and the Towns of James Island, Lincolnville, Sullivan’s Island, Mount Pleasant, and Summerville

Pickup Locations
Friday, September 11 | 12:00–2:00 PM
Summerville
Saturday, September 12 | 9:00–11:30 AM
Edisto Beach

Caution: Please avoid using harvested rainwater for edible gardening and food-related needs.

A special thank you to Edisto Island Open Land Trust and the Town of Summerville for generously providing our pickup locations and supporting our community conservation effort.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, s*x, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

For additional information, please contact:
Beatriss Jay Calhoun
(843)729-4523 or [email protected]

09/01/2026

Check out this great opportunity to help keep our community clean!

Join Us for South Carolina’s Largest Single-Day Clean-Up Event!🧹🌊
Help us make a difference in our community and protect the waterways we love!💙 In support of statewide efforts to reduce litter, Mount Pleasant will host a litter clean-up at Shem Creek Park on September 19 at 8:30 a.m. 🌿
As a participating location in South Carolina’s Beach/River Sweep, Mount Pleasant staff will once again lead a land-based litter sweep at Shem Creek Park. Volunteers will focus on removing trash from the marsh and surrounding areas to help protect the health of our estuary ecosystem. 🐢🦀🌱

We’ll provide the supplies you need, including:
• 🦯 Litter pickers
• 🦺 Safety vests
• 🧤 Gloves
• 🗑️ Trash bags
• 🪏 Disposal of all collected litter
Volunteers should bring a reusable water bottle💧, sunscreen☀️, a hat🧢, and anything else they may need to stay comfortable outdoors for a few hours. Shem Creek Park also has restrooms 🚻, seating, and shaded areas🌳 available for volunteers.
📧To register or ask questions, please email [email protected]. Additional event details will be shared with registered volunteers as the event approaches.
🗑️Why Does Litter Matter in Mount Pleasant?
Litter isn’t just an eyesore—it’s a major source of pollution in Mount Pleasant’s stormwater system.🌧️ Unlike wastewater, stormwater is not treated before it reaches our waterways. That means litter that enters a storm drain can ultimately make its way into our creeks, marshes, and rivers. 🌊
By removing litter before it reaches our waterways, we can help protect local wildlife🐬, water quality💧, and the health of our coastal ecosystems🌿.
Whether you’re looking to earn service hours🎓 or simply want to help keep Mount Pleasant beautiful, this clean-up is a great opportunity to get involved!💚
🙌 Can’t Make It on September 19?
No problem! Mount Pleasant staff can help facilitate another clean-up event and provide supplies for your group to use.🧤🗑️
Together, we can keep Mount Pleasant clean, protect our waterways, and make a difference—one piece of litter at a time!💙🌎

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

Grow your knowledge of South Carolina’s native plants!

The South Carolina Native Plant Certificate offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our state’s native plants, habitats, ecology, and sustainable landscaping.

The certificate is a partnership between the South Carolina Botanical Garden and the South Carolina Native Plant Society, with classes taught by experts in the field.

You don’t have to pursue the full certificate to participate. You can take individual classes based on your interests, and if you choose to work toward the certificate, there is no time limit for completion.

Core classes cover topics including:
• Basic botany
• Horticulture
• Sustainable landscaping
• Natural plant communities
• And more!

Elective classes explore specific landscapes and themes, providing additional opportunities to learn about South Carolina’s incredible native plant diversity.

Native plants also play an important role in creating more sustainable landscapes. Their established root systems can help improve soil health, slow and absorb stormwater, and reduce runoff, making them valuable additions to rain gardens and other stormwater-friendly landscapes.

Upcoming Lowcountry Class:

Basic Botany – Charleston, SC
September 11, 2026

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/basic-botany-charleston-scnp-core-class-91126-tickets-1995985449209

Learn more about the certificate program and upcoming classes:
https://www.clemson.edu/scbg/learn/native-plant-certificate.html

Questions? Contact Sue Watts at [email protected].

Whether you’re a gardener, naturalist, educator, landscape professional, or simply interested in learning more about South Carolina’s native plants, these classes are a great way to expand your knowledge and better understand the plants and ecosystems that make our state unique.