Since tropical depression Chantal caused major flooding of the Eno River, we have cautioned people to avoid coming into contact with the water until we have a clear read on water quality in the river. For those asking whether it’s safe to swim yet, we have an update.
Samantha Krop is the Riverkeeper of the Neuse River Basin—the watershed the Eno and Little Rivers are part of. This week she sampled water from five sites along the Eno to test for bacterial levels. On Thursday she shared good news: all five sites, from Eno River Brewing in Hillsborough to Penny’s Bend in Durham, passed! Passing means that bacteria levels are below the threshold of what is deemed not safe for primary human contact by EPA. In short: good to swim.
“As a reminder, things change with a big rain—so conditions may be different if we get a dumping tonight,” cautioned Krop. “That said, it’s good to know that our river is resilient enough to recover from major flooding.” Even if major flooding doesn’t occur, the riverkeeper recommends waiting a few days after a good rain before getting in the water. Usually turbidity (how cloudy the water looks) is a good indicator of bacteria after a rain, so if the river still looks dirty with sediment, it’s fair to assume it has higher bacteria levels too. Higher bacteria levels (fecal coliform) carry health risks such as digestive and skin infections, which is why we recommend avoiding the water when turbidity and bacteria levels are likely to be high.
Photo courtesy of Sound Rivers: Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop collects a water sample at one of five sites along the Eno River.
Photo courtesy of Sound Rivers: A muddied, swift-moving Eno River, more than a week after tropical depression Chantal unleashed historic flooding in Hillsborough.
Photo courtesy of Sound Rivers: Clear evidence of extreme flooding can be seen in this log wedged against a bridge, high above normal river levels.
A footbridge washed out by the flooding during Chantal.
Silt carried by Chantal flooding to cover a trail near the river. ERA Staff.
Thanks to the hard work of our stewardship team and trail steward volunteers assessing the safety of trails and clearing debris, all ERA-owned preserves (Blue Indigo, Confluence, and Panther Branch) are re-opened to the public after Chantal caused major flooding along the Eno River. North Carolina State Parks also reopened Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area.
Eno River State Park (ERSP) and West Point on the Eno City Park remain closed as staff work hard to assess and repair damage from the storm. Flooding washed away bridges and felled trees, making many areas unsafe or inaccessible. Please do not trespass as it could endanger you, park staff, or first responders.
When we receive updates from our partners—particularly regarding Eno River State Park and West Point on the Eno—we will post an update on our website at Current Park and Trail Closures.
Read more at SoundRivers.org.
