Forsyth County invites students to storm-drain art contest to protect Lake Lanier

Forsyth County opened a student art contest to raise water-quality awareness and reduce pollution entering local waterways. The county invited middle- and high-school students to submit designs under the theme "Only rain down the drain," a campaign to remind residents that anything placed in storm drains flows untreated into creeks and ultimately Lake Lanier.

The announcement, issued Jan. 12, 2026, frames the contest as both public education and visible civic engagement. Winning designs will be selected through the county’s review process and then painted on storm drains or adjacent public areas at participating schools and sites. The county says prizes will recognize student achievement and provide materials to help schools implement the artwork and outreach that accompanies it.

Organizers point to past contests as evidence of impact. The 2023 contest produced a winning design that has been painted at Piney Grove Middle School, giving students and the community a permanent reminder about stormwater pollution. County officials say such installations turn abstract environmental messages into local landmarks, reinforcing classroom lessons with neighborhood-scale reminders that protect downstream recreation and property values tied to Lake Lanier.

The contest is open to students in local middle and high schools and is intended to involve teachers and school groups as partners in both design and installation. Submission guidelines, entry formats and the deadline were detailed by county stormwater and education staff in the announcement; schools and teachers are encouraged to contact those offices for application packets, technical specifications and scheduling for installations. The county will coordinate final approvals and site preparation to ensure painted drains meet safety and maintenance standards.

For Forsyth County residents, the contest combines youth creativity with practical environmental stewardship. Painted drains serve as mini-campaigns in neighborhoods where motorists and pedestrians repeatedly see the message that yard waste, motor oil, pet waste and litter do not belong in storm drains. Because stormwater drains in Forsyth County discharge directly to creeks and Lake Lanier without treatment, small individual actions add up to measurable differences in water clarity, algae growth and the health of recreation areas that attract local tourism and boaters.

This contest offers educators a hands-on project that links art, science and civic responsibility while giving students a public platform. For residents, more painted drains means more reminders to keep streets and waterways clean. Interested students, teachers and schools should reach out to Forsyth County stormwater and education staff for submission instructions, prize details and installation scheduling to take part in the program.