Eno River Association
Protect. Advocate. Learn.
Check out our time lapse video, mapping the growth of the Eno River State Park over 50 years. It’s time to light the candles and sing happy birthday! This year, on August 22, Eno River State Park is celebrating the big 5-0. It’s a significant milestone in our journey to protect and conserve the natural, […]
It’s you, this vibrant, kind-hearted, and giving community, that makes it all possible. From the performers, to the volunteers, and of course all of you that came and enjoyed yourselves – we’re sending a heartfelt “Thank You!” Your Festival participation is just the first step in protecting the Eno. As you know, the Festival provides significant awareness […]
The Eno River Association is pleased to announce that a drinking water source for the City of Durham is now further protected with the generous donation of a 71-acre conservation easement adjacent to Teer Quarry. The conservation easement will protect the eastern side of the former quarry, which is located along the southern side of the […]
Summer is here, and that means, the Festival for the Eno is just around the corner! We hope to see you on July 1st and 4th! This year’s incredible lineup features Tift Merritt, Bombadil, the African American Dance Ensemble, the Gospel Jubilators, Joseph Terrell, Mike Compton & Joe Newberry, Dawn Landes, Spiritual Voices, Hammer No […]
The Eno River Association is at the forefront of advocacy efforts to protect and preserve the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River and its surrounding areas. The following are some updates on our advocacy efforts and opportunities to support to our cause. All are welcome to join our Eno Land Use & Advocacy Committee […]
We are excited to announce that we are embarking on a new project! We are developing a comprehensive strategic conservation plan that will center environmental justice and climate resilience goals within a prioritized plan for proactive natural, cultural, and historic resource protection across the entire Eno River basin. This plan will incorporate updated outcomes from […]
NEWEST ADDITION TO THE ENO RIVER PARKS NETWORK A collective vision to transform 56 acres of family-owned forest into a publicly accessible riverfront hiking area has become a reality. Panther Branch Natural Area in unincorporated Efland will celebrate its opening on Earth Day, April 22 – the culmination of six years of work by the […]
Interview conducted on March 13, 2019 by Joe Liles at the home of John Blackfeather Jeffries in Hillsborough, NC. From Ribbons of Color Along the Eno River, volume 2. I came into this world in 1939 in Hillsborough, NC where we are sitting right now. All of my family lived around me. You could see […]
Julie Thomson is a naturalist, certified environmental educator, writer, and lover of the Eno. She enjoys studying and sharing the natural and cultural history of North Carolina and currently resides in the Black Mountain area of the state. Below is an excerpt from an interview with Julie about her recent book, “Saving the Eno River: Margaret Nygard […]
Last week, myself and my colleague had the amazing opportunity to assist two research technicians from North Carolina State University with Neuse River waterdog surveys in the Eno and Flat Rivers. Spoiler alert: we found one in the Flat River, but none in the Eno. Nonetheless, I’d like to tell you about our experience! First, […]
December can be a lot! Days get shorter. Holiday shopping and end-of-year reflections can breed anxiety – not to mention coordinating those family activities and travel! Add to that, nearly one-third of all annual donations nationally are given in December. We are so grateful for the 24% of individual donors who made it a priority […]
Buckquarter Creek Trail is a popular hiking route along the Eno, featuring ample natural beauty as well as several historical structures. This 1.5-mile loop features both forested and riverside hiking segments, as well as a quick jaunt along a special tributary of the Eno – Buckquarter Creek! Due to the location of Buckquarter Creek in […]
2023 is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina! This statewide campaign encourages every North Carolinian to get outside onto the trails, greenways, and blueways that stretch across the state. On August 10th, 2021, the NC legislature passed HB 554, designating 2023 as the “North Carolina Year of the Trail.” This historic designation underscores […]
The Eno River Association announced a 7.5 acres expansion of Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area today via a recent land acquisition. This property is a priority in the Eno River State Park Master Plan given its exceptional Natural Heritage Program Natural Area rating and will help provide habitat and water protection for the Eno River. […]
The attorneys for Save Black Meadow Ridge and the developer/owner of the parcel are requesting that Durham’s Board of Adjustment continue our zoning appeal. This extension will allow negotiations to continue between the parties. Our goal remains to preserve and protect the Eno River and its tributaries, and this culturally and naturally rich land adjacent […]
The Eno River Association is pleased to announce that a project to sell over 200 acres near downtown Hillsborough has received full funding from federal, state, and private sources. Since 2021, the Association has been working to initiate the sale of property owned by Classical American Homes Preservation Trust to The Archaeological Conservancy and the […]
We would like to share the following update regarding the properties on Open Air Camp Road. We have tabled the sale of the homes to NC State Parks, and are pursuing professional mediation with the Eno River Tenants Association to find equitable outcomes for the people who live in these homes. We have made mistakes […]
Since our last update regarding the land transfer on Open Air Camp Road to Eno River State Park, we welcomed the newly formed Eno River Tenants Association to a listening session on October 23. All were invited to share their thoughts about the upcoming land transfer with the Eno River Association’s Board of Directors, staff, […]
There is nothing quite like being outside in the dark on a chilly night, surrounded by nature, and hearing the call of a lone owl echoing through the trees. It might be a little eerie at first, but we believe it provides a feeling of enchantment and mystery that can’t be matched. Unfortunately, the mysterious […]
Here at the Eno River Association, we absolutely love learning and talking about some of the amazing native organisms that can be found in our area, all of which work together to ensure Eno ecosystems are healthy and balanced. If you’re like us, you’ll agree that monarch butterflies EASILY rank at the top of this […]
Since sharing our statement with the Eno community in September, we continue to respond to individual questions, requests for clarification, and offers to help. We appreciate the support we’re seeing: for the neighbors involved, for the Eno River Association, and for the State Park. Even the frustrations we’ve heard are welcomed, as it helps us […]
The Eno River Association would like to acknowledge the recent questions we’ve received surrounding several properties on Open Air Camp Road in Northern Durham. A core part of our mission is to support and grow Eno River State Park by purchasing land identified in the Eno River State Park Master Plan for protection and expansion. […]
UPDATE: Durham Board of Adjustment Meeting Postponed to September 27. The Durham Board of Adjustment was set to hear our appeal in opposition to the Westpoint development at Black Meadow Ridge on May 24; however, our appeal has now been rescheduled for September 27 due to ongoing negotiations. We will put out a call and […]
I. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS ~ 1. Protection of the water quality in a critical watershed area which affects the Eno River, the source of drinking water for Falls Lake reservoir in Raleigh and the future Teer Quarry in Durham. 2. Preservation of the nationally significant Eno River Aquatic Habitat which contains endangered and threatened species, among […]
![Woodland forms of buffalo and elk once ranged the mountains and the northwest piedmont in scattered herds. Yet even by the arrival of the early European explorers, their numbers were scarce. Both species were largely eliminated by hunting and indigenous tribes most likely traded these animals on the Great Indian Trading Path. While buffalo were occasionally seen between 1720 and 1750, they were gone by 1765. Elk may have died out even earlier, around 1700. Remnants of the buffalos statewide presence persists in many place names like Buffalo Creek in northern Orange County. Some say that even our earliest roads, deeply carved with curved banks, were buffalo trails.
📸: Betsy Russell
Text source: 1985 Calendar
[image description: river in winter sunlight with trees and banks dusted in snow]](https://www.enoriver.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)