Ellerbe Creek is a tributary of the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Neuse River Basin, and flows for more than twenty miles through North Durham. The Ellerbe's watershed begins near Orange County north of Interstate 85, near the WDNC radio tower and Bennett Place. The creek flows through many of Durham's most historic and culturally significant areas, including Ninth Street, Downtown Durham, beneath Durham Athletic Park, The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the Museum of Life and Science, the old Durham Landfill, Duke University East Campus, Trinity Park, Walltown, Northgate Mall, and towards the end crosses Fishdam Road.[6] The Ellerbe eventually flows into Falls Lake, about a mile south of the Eno River.

Ellerbe Creek
Tributary to Neuse River
A wooden bridge over a tributary on the western part of the Ellerbe Creek Trail
Ellerbe Creek is located in North Carolina
Ellerbe Creek
Location of Ellerbe Creek mouth
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyDurham
Physical characteristics
Sourcedivide between Ellerbe Creek and Eno River
 • locationDurham, North Carolina[2]
 • coordinates36°01′32″N 078°58′25″W / 36.02556°N 78.97361°W / 36.02556; -78.97361[1]
 • elevation460 ft (140 m)[3]
MouthNeuse River (Falls Lake)
 • location
Durham, North Carolina[2]
 • coordinates
36°04′15″N 078°47′06″W / 36.07083°N 78.78500°W / 36.07083; -78.78500[1]
 • elevation
252 ft (77 m)[3]
Length13.04 mi (20.99 km)[4]
Basin size66.96 square miles (173.4 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationNeuse River (Falls Lake)
 • average51.79 cu ft/s (1.467 m3/s) at mouth with Neuse River[5]
Basin features
Progressioneast
River systemNeuse River
Tributaries 
 • leftunnamed tributaries
 • rightunnamed tributaries

It has been cited as the most polluted creek in The Triangle region of North Carolina.[7] A watershed improvement plan was prepared by the Brown and Caldweld firm for the City of Durham in 2010.[8]

Some say Ellerbe is a name derived from a Native American language, while others believe the creek is named after John Ellerby, an early settler.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "GNIS Detail - Ellerbe Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Ellerbe Creek Topo Map, Durham County NC (Northeast Durham Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Ellerbe Creek Topo Map, Durham County NC (Northeast Durham Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  4. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Ellerbe Creek Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Ellerbe Creek Watershed | Durham, NC". durhamnc.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. ^ "Ellerbe Creek Nature Tour to highlight anti-pollution work | News & Observer". 2014-09-12. Archived from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  8. ^ "ELLERBE CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN". 2010-05-01. Archived from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  9. ^ "History of the Ellerbe Creek Watershed". Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association. Retrieved 4 July 2019.