Ellerbe Creek

Ellerbe Creek is 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
Location of Ellerbe Creek mouth
Location
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Durham
Physical characteristics
Source	divide between Ellerbe Creek and Eno River
• location	Durham, North Carolina[1]
• coordinates	36°01′32″N 078°58′25″W[2]
• elevation	460 ft (140 m)[3]
Mouth	Neuse River (Falls Lake)
• location	Durham, North Carolina[1]
• coordinates	36°04′15″N 078°47′06″W[2]
• elevation	252 ft (77 m)[3]
Length	13.04 mi (20.99 km)[4]
Basin size	66.96 square miles (173.4 km2)
Discharge
• location	Neuse River (Falls Lake)
• average	51.79 cu ft/s (1.467 m3/s) at mouth with Neuse River[5]
Basin features
Progression	east
River system	Neuse River
Tributaries
• left	unnamed tributaries
• right	unnamed 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]