Ellerbe Creek is a predominately urban watershed located in Durham, NC and is a tributary to Falls Lake, a drinking water reservoir for 600,000 Wake County residents.
Ellerbe Creek has been identified by the State as an "impaired stream" because it does not sufficiently support aquatic life. Possible causes include:
- Excess stormwater from urban development,
- Lack of riparian vegetation in many areas,
- Pesticides, fertilizers, oils, and other pollutants that flow directly into the creek through storm drains,
- "Illicit discharges," which include chemical or sewage spills (intentional or accidental) into the stormwater system or the stream, and
- Impacts from past channel straightening.
NCDWQ has begun conducting investigations to determine causes of impairment. One major source of stress to the watershed is impervious surfaces (such as rooftops, driveways, and roads), which prevent water from infiltrating into the ground. When it rains, more water flows over land, picking up pollutants and sediment, eroding stream banks, backing up into sewer systems, and generally making a mess of the stream. Even low levels of impervious land cover (10 to 15%) can degrade streams. About 22% of the Ellerbe Creek watershed is impervious, although a large portion of the watershed that drains to South Ellerbe Creek is more than 40% impervious.
Look at our brochure: "KEEPING OUR WATERS CLEAN" - A Guide to Stream and Wetland Restoration
| Land Area: | 37 square miles |
|---|---|
| Major Tributaries: | South Ellerbe Creek, Goose Creek, and Panther Creek |
| Population: | 47,540 in 2000 |
| Land Protected: | 27% |
| Impervious Surfaces: | 22% in 2000; 27.5% by 2025 |
| Jurisdictions: | Durham City and County, State and Federal governments (Falls Lake State Recreational Area) |
| Permitted Wastewater Discharge (MGD, million gallons per day) : | North Durham Water Reclamation Facility (20 MGD); Days Inn Wastewater Treatment Plant (0.018 MGD); Lake Ridge Aero Park (0.016 MGD) |
