Friends of Sadlers Creek State Park

06/18/2026

🟠 Have you spotted one of these orange ball buoys around Lake Hartwell and wondered why it’s there? 🟠

Over the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified areas around Lake Hartwell that can become submerged boating hazards when lake levels are below normal or at seasonal low levels.

To help keep boaters safe, the Corps places orange ball buoys near these hazards in high-traffic areas and primary navigation routes, such as channels leading to boat ramps and other commonly traveled waterways.

⚠️ A few important things to remember:
✔️ These buoys mark potential submerged hazards.
✔️ They are not shown on navigation charts like traditional shoal markers.
✔️ Boaters should avoid the immediate area surrounding these buoys.
✔️ Please do not tie off or moor to these buoys.

These markers are an important tool for helping everyone enjoy a safer day on the water. If you see one, use caution and give it plenty of room.

Stay safe and boat responsibly! 💙 For the sake of the lake!

06/15/2026

What are your favorite events for the 4th? Share your favorite events.

-Hartwell Pre-4th Fireworks Extravaganza, June 27th https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HvReMnf3o/
-Big Water Marina, June 27th Freedom Celebration and fireworks https://www.bigwatermarina.com/freedom-celebration

06/15/2026

🌊🧤 The results are in and what a big impact! A huge thank you to Lake Hartwell Partners for Clean Water, all of our dedicated LHA volunteers, and our board members who participated in this year's Spring Splash the Trash Away event!

The results speak for themselves—when our community comes together, we can accomplish amazing things for Lake Hartwell. 💙

We also want to thank everyone who donated their time, boats, equipment, and energy to help make this event a success. Every bag of trash removed helps protect the lake we all love.

📣 Be on the lookout for details about the Fall Splash the Trash Away event later this year!

Know of an area around Lake Hartwell that could use some cleanup attention? Interested in organizing your own "Splash the Trash" cleanup? Reach out to LHA! We can provide supplies, guidance, and instructions to help you get started.

Together, we can continue making a difference—for the sake of the lake! 🌊

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

Lake Hartwell Association is excited to share some new information on our Dock Float Tow Kit Program designed to help keep Lake Hartwell safe and beautiful for everyone who enjoys it.

Loose dock floats can become hazards for boaters and create safety concerns around the lake. To help address this issue, LHA will soon make available Dock Float Tow Kits that include the basic materials and instructions needed to safely secure and tow a loose dock float to a designated pickup location.

📍 More information will be available soon, including:
✔️ Where to pick up a kit
✔️ Step-by-step instructions
✔️ A helpful demonstration video
✔️ Safety tips and best practices

This initiative is just one more way LHA is working to improve safety and stewardship around Lake Hartwell.

Stay tuned for additional details in the coming weeks, and thank you for helping us keep Lake Hartwell safe, beautiful, and enjoyable for all.

💙 For the sake of the lake!

05/22/2026

Keep your eyes on the trail during the Fox Squirrel 5K at Sadlers Creek State Park. You might even spot one of the park’s famous fox squirrels along the way! Enjoy scenic views of Lake Hartwell while running or walking at your own pace through the park.

🏃 Race starts at 10 a.m.
🌲 $30 registration. Register here: https://brnw.ch/21x2FOZ
🎁 Register by May 29
🏅 Prizes awarded to top finishers

Tag your race buddy below and start planning your day at the park!
📸:

05/22/2026

Happy Memorial Day weekend! Be safe out there on the water and on the trails. Watch for weather updates as scattered showers come in tonight through Sunday.

05/20/2026

The numbers are in! Our clean-up statistics from the Spring 2026 clean-up around Lake Hartwell are below! We had 8 main sites across the lake on both the SC and GA sides, and several satellite locations that joined us for the day! Thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, partner organizations, donors and LHPCW board members who put time into these clean-ups!

Stay tuned for our Fall 2026 "Save The Date" announcing our fall clean-up!! 💧💧

05/13/2026

If you find a fawn - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H8FN8LeWq/

It’s officially “find a fawn and decide to keep it” season. 🙃

"Spoiler alert". In this episode, GWN will absolutely track you down between state lines to get that fawn into proper care with the assistance of DNR law enforcement when needed. We are working on another one as we type.

So here’s your reminder…

🦌 If you find a fawn that may need help, reach out BEFORE taking it.
🦌 If you find a fawn that definitely needs help, contact a licensed rehabber immediately and be prepared to surrender it.
🦌 Do not hand over fawns to anyone who is not licensed to rehab them. PLEASE ASK

Please do not:
- Let your children pet it and snuggle- fawns can have ticks, fleas, and mites
- Feed it baby formula, goat milk, cows milk OR ANYTHING- it can make the fawn sick
- Let it “frolic” with your pets- this can turn bad quickly
- Decide your spare bedroom now belongs to a fawn- they are terrible roommates

It is illegal to rehabilitate wildlife in Georgia without the proper licenses, and those laws exist for a reason. Fawns require specialized care, proper nutrition, and minimal human interaction to have any chance of being successfully released back into the wild.

When in doubt, text us first, 678-827-5496. We’d rather answer questions than launch a full scale fawn recovery mission. Please & thank you.

📸 Photo by GWN

04/30/2026

In support of Georgia Environmental Protection Division officially declaring a ‘Level 1 Drought Response’ for public water systems that use surface water and/or groundwater, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District encourages all Park and Campground visitors to:

• Report leaks at hydrants, faucets, or bathhouses to campground hosts and Park Rangers

• Ensure all water taps are fully closed after use

• Limit unnecessary water consumption at campsites

By reducing water use now, we can help protect local water sources and potentially avoid more restrictive “level 2” or “level 3” Drought Response measures in the future.

More water conservation information can be found at: https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection-branch/water-conservation

Georgia Environmental Protection Division