Friends of the Edisto (FRED) is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to facilitate conservation of natural and cultural resources and advocate sustainable development within the Edisto River Basin of South Carolina. FRED was formed to promote the implementation of recommendations and policies contained in the 1996 publication, Managing Resources for a Sustainable Future: The Edisto River Basin Project Report, a guidance document that resulted from a community-based watershed planning process conducted by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and other partnering agencies.

FRED became a functional organization after 501(c)3 status was obtained and initial financial gifts were received in late 2000. From 2000 to present FRED has raised $112,000. Over half of these funds have come from grants, including the River Network Watershed Assistance Grant, Palmetto Pride Community Pride Grants (3 awarded), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Challenge Grant. One quarter of the funds come from the donations of corporations and foundations and 15 percent comes from FRED members. Grant funds enabled FRED to hire part-time staff, begin developing the organization and its partnerships, and conduct education and outreach programs.

FRED’s accomplishments include:

• Formed partnerships to conduct an outreach program targeting large landowners, local governments, and development organizations to promote fish and wildlife resource conservation goals. This effort was supported by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and partnerships with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Audubon South Carolina, Congaree Land Trust, Lowcountry Open Land Trust, and Aiken County Open Land Trust.
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  Established working relationship through Audubon South Carolina with Orangeburg County Development Commission to implement conservation goals within the County’s industrial development plans.
  
• FRED received South Carolina Wildlife Federation Conservation Award in January 2003 at the Federation’s 38th Annual Conservation Awards program. FRED received the 2002 Conservation Organization Award in recognition of the 2002 Stewardship Day event and related achievements.
  
• Enjoyed regular, annual river trips with generous assistance from ERCK, the Edisto River Canoe-Kayak Trail Commission.
  
• Established “Stewardship Day,” a basin-wide litter cleanup involving 1500 volunteers over several years: 2002, 2003, and 2004. Thanks to the leadership of Howard Bridgman, Stewardship Day has continued with cleanups on the lower Edisto River in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
  
• Assisted South Carolina State University in obtaining an EPA Section 319 water-quality improvement grant, which resulted in community education and pollution-problem source identification.
  
• Partnered with state and local agencies to refurbish river access sites and establish the North Fork Blueway, a 30-mile canoe trail in Orangeburg County.
  
• Established outreach tools and materials: website (edistofriends.org), newsletters, brochure, exhibit display, video/slide presentation, and Freddy-our FRED mascot).
  
• Conducted six (6) successful basin-wide festivals, the FRED Annual Meeting – Edisto River Basin Celebration (of 2000 through 2005) conducted at various locations including the Orangeburg Arts Center/Edisto Gardens, Aiken State Natural Area, and The Methodist Oaks.
  
• Recruited 250 members.
  
• Several talented, dedicated Presidents and Vice Presidents have directed FRED over the years. These have included: Bob Fledderman, Bart Marcy, Alec Gillespie, and Tim Rogers.