August 2026 Lake Sidney Lanier: The Leave No Trace organization has selected Lake Sidney Lanier as a 2026 Spotlight. As outdoor areas nationwide are being impacted by record use, this initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge with multi-day, onsite education and restoration initiatives. From September 12th to 13th, Leave No Trace will be in Buford GA with The US Army Corp of Engineers at Lake Sidney Lanier to work with the community and local land agencies to deliver Leave No Trace education as well as partner on restoration and stewardship projects.
Local land agencies or community groups nominate sites for the Leave No Trace Spotlight initiative. The diverse sites chosen in 2026 span the country, each with unique environmental challenges. The initiative aims to equip each Spotlight area with relevant Leave No Trace tools that address the site's impacts and foster healthy lands and people.
“The Spotlight program is an amazing way to highlight the power of a community and the steps they can take to protect the outdoor areas they love,” states Dana Watts, the Executive Director of Leave No Trace. “This program puts conservation into action, and the 3-day Spotlight led by Leave No Trace staff focuses on workshops, Leave No Trace education, and community engagement to ensure that every Spotlight host is left with the tools necessary to continue to protect and conserve the areas around them.”
The following events are free and open to the public, and we encourage people of all ages to attend. For more information visit our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/LakeSidneyLanierUSACE/
Saturday, September 12: Summer Sendoff at Buford Dam Park
Join us for an engaging outreach event saying goodbye to summer but not enjoying the outdoors. Meet Rangers from the US Army Corp of Engineers, National Park Service and Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources! In addition groups like Leave No Trace, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Lake Lanier Association and many others. You can play quick games to learn more about Leave No Trace and how to protect our Lake, swim safely, and enjoy the outdoors all year long!
Sunday, September 13: Community Project – Trail and Park Clean up: Join us at Little Ridge trailhead at 10am and until 2pm as we work to clean and rehab the Little Ridge trail and Little Ridge Park itself. Any and all equipment will be provided, for more information contact Ranger Merritt at 770-904-3294.
About Leave No Trace
Using science-based education, training for all, and community-driven stewardship, Leave No Trace works to protect the outdoors through prevention, helping people reduce their impact before damage occurs. The Leave No Trace Spotlight program brings this mission to life in high-use outdoor areas by combining on-the-ground education, local partnerships, and volunteer action. In 2025 alone, 3,821 community members participated, and volunteers contributed more than 2,087 volunteer hours to Spotlight projects, helping protect parks, trails, and waterways for everyone who enjoys them.
Learn more at: www.LNT.org.
- Facebook: @LeaveNoTraceCenter
- Instagram: @LeaveNoTraceOrg
- LinkedIn: @LeaveNoTrace
For media inquiries, please contact:
Stanley Merritt
Park Ranger
US Army Corp of Engineers, Lake Sidney Lanier
https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Lake-Sidney-Lanier/7709043294