JENNINGS RANDOLPH LAKE, W.Va. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, owned and operated Jennings Randolph Lake (JRL) project has been selected as a 2025 Spotlight Site by the Leave No Trace organization, an independent nonprofit that empowers people to care for the outdoors without the need for costly restoration or access restrictions. JRL is one of nineteen sites chosen nationwide and selected for the Community Conservation Initiative.
As outdoor areas nationwide are being impacted by record use, this new initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge with multi-day, onsite education, and restoration initiatives. From June 5-7, Leave No Trace will be at JRL with USACE to work with the community and local land agencies to deliver Leave No Trace education as well as to 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 2025 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.”
Events Open to the Public:
Friday, June 6: Community Outreach – Trivia at North Branch Pub: Join us at North Branch Pub in Keyser, WV at 5:30 pm for an evening of fun focused on Leave No Trace Principles/Local Trivia. For more information, contact Francesca Montgomery (304-288-5624).
Saturday, June 7: Stewardship Project(s): Join us at Jennings Randolph Lake to celebrate National Trails Day and complete an environmental stewardship project. We will be planting chestnut trees along the Sunset Trail. We will be meeting at the Robert W. Craig Campground Picnic Shelter at 9:00 am.
Important volunteer information: Bring water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, and dress for the weather. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are recommended. Tools & supplies provided, but please bring work gloves if you have them.
About Leave No Trace
Using the power of science and research, education for all, and stewardship to support and protect nature, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. The Spotlight program is the newest education offering from Leave No Trace. Learn more at: www.LNT.org.
About Jennings Randolph Lake
Seated between Mineral County, W.V. and Garret County, MD., Jennings Randolph Lake serves as a water supply and flood control reservoir on the North Branch of the Potomac River. Operated and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake offers multiple recreation opportunities for public use, wonderful views, and the locally famous “Waffle Rock”. Follow Jennings Randolph Lake on Facebook for additional updates.