Driving through SC and GA, I’m curious to see the number of young pine forests out the window and the reservoirs on the map. Could anyone recommend more to read about the politics and rationale behind the transformation of the piedmont and lowcountry areas of these states, especially in the 20th century?
I don't know that this answer will be allowed. Conservation is a pretty broad topic. I know there is some government literature out there about the history of the Soil Conservation Service in the Dust Bowl era but I'm not finding where that can be ordered from.
The only book on my radar that specifically deals with that locale is Let us Praise Famous Gullies.
https://ugapress.org/book/9780820353821/let-us-now-praise-famous-gullies/
Dirt, the Erosion of Civilizations is pretty good and would be something that would be understandable to someone without a background in soil science. But it isn't specific to that geography.
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520272903/dirt
For the reservoirs/forests you might look into a history of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Thanks! I’ll check them out