ECWA
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association
  • Our Watershed
    • What is a Watershed?
    • History of the Ellerbe Creek Watershed
    • Plants & Animals
    • Stories from the Watershed
    • Ellerbe & Me
    • Blog
  • Our Preserves
    • Overview
    • 17-Acre Wood
    • The Rocks
    • Pearl Mill
    • Glennstone
    • Beaver Marsh
  • Our Work
    • Overview
    • Protect
    • Restore
    • Engage
    • Advocate
  • About Us
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Our Supporters
    • History of ECWA
    • Guiding Documents
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Stewardship
    • Visit a Preserve
    • Make Your Property Creek Smart
    • Attend An Event
  • Donate

What is ​a Watershed?

An area of land that channels and filters water.
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Photo credit: A. Vicente, U.S. Forest Service
A watershed is an area of land that channels rainfall through creeks, streams, and rivers to a common outlet such as a reservoir, lake, or bay. Because the land is always shedding water, you’re standing in a watershed no matter where you are on Earth. Watersheds are separated by hills or slopes that direct water to different sources.
 
Healthy watersheds reduce erosion, prevent flooding, provide viable habitats for wildlife, and protect our water quality.

​As water runs over and through the watershed, it picks up and carries contaminants from rooftops, parking areas, construction sites, and agricultural fields (and from the soil around them). These pollutants wash directly into waterways, affecting the health of our creeks, rivers, lakes, and drinking water.​

​​The health of a watershed depends on the people who live within it. Learn about the Ellerbe Creek
 watershed​ and what you can do to keep it clean.
How You Can Help
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Donate
Support our mission with your tax-deductible gift.
​
Contribute
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Volunteer
Get stuck into preserving the creek and its land.
​

Sign Up
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Attend
Join forces with the community at one of our events.
​
View Events
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ECWA​
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Mail: PO Box 2679
Durham, NC 27715
Office: 2600 W. Carver St., Suite C 
Durham, NC 27705
919.698.9729
info@ellerbecreek.org
​
​OUR WATERSHED

What Is a Watershed?
History of the Watershed
Plants & Animals
Stories from the Watershed
Ellerbe & Me




​OUR PRESERVES

Overview
Glennstone
Beaver Marsh
Pearl Mill
The Rocks
17-Acre Wood
Non-Public Preserves
​
​OUR WORK

Overview
Protect
Restore

Engage
Advocate


​
​ABOUT US

Our People

Our Supporters
History of ECWA
Guiding Documents
​
​GET INVOLVED

Donate
Volunteer
Visit a Preserve
Creek Smart
Attend an Event
Copyright © 2019 ECWA   |   Terms   |   Privacy
  • Our Watershed
    • What is a Watershed?
    • History of the Ellerbe Creek Watershed
    • Plants & Animals
    • Stories from the Watershed
    • Ellerbe & Me
    • Blog
  • Our Preserves
    • Overview
    • 17-Acre Wood
    • The Rocks
    • Pearl Mill
    • Glennstone
    • Beaver Marsh
  • Our Work
    • Overview
    • Protect
    • Restore
    • Engage
    • Advocate
  • About Us
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Our Supporters
    • History of ECWA
    • Guiding Documents
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Stewardship
    • Visit a Preserve
    • Make Your Property Creek Smart
    • Attend An Event
  • Donate