More than half the City's population lives in the Ellerbe Creek watershed. That large population places greater stress on the stream, but also provides greater opportunities for citizen involvement. Stream cleanups by citizen groups like Friends of South Ellerbe Creek do more than raise awareness - they foster pride and stewardship.
-- John Cox, Director Durham Stormwater Services (in Herald-Sun)

Thank you for the introduction of Friends of the South Ellerbe Creek! I was somewhat familiar with it's history, but certainly not to this degree. My sincere thanks on the excellent education. I will splash through the site as invited!!!
--P. Lamont Ewell [Durham City Manager]

Thanks for sending me information on the South Ellerbe website and the history. It is very interesting. I appreciate the work that the Friends of South Ellerbe Creek have undertaken.
-- Ellen Reckhow Durham County Commissioner

Thanks for pointing me to the [FOSEC] site. Great job.
--Nick Tennyson [Mayor of Durham]

Thanks for your infomation about the work of FOSEC. Your group is doing important work! My husband and I have been involved with preservation of the Eno River for about 30 years, and we understand the effort to cleanup and keep clean a stream. Keep it up and keep me informed.
-- Becky Heron (County Commissioner)

Please keep me informed about topics or events that you would like us to participate. I look forward to working with you.
-- Rev. Wayne M. Weathers [Walltown Ministries]

I salute the Friends of South Ellerbe Creek. As a member of Trout Unlimited, I am amazed at the power grassroots organizations have to preserve and protect our natural resources.
--Andrew [Chevy Chase, Maryland]

What you folks are doing is wonderful. I loved the pictures on your website. We would like the opportunity to discuss with you and your group what we could do to help support your goals. We have resources for training volunteers & supplying water quality testing kits, experience in bringing legal actions against polluters and the ability to get grants for urban stream restoration, etc...
-- Marion [Executive Director, Neuse River Foundation]

I recently took a look at the FOSEC web page. It looks like a great start to increase public awareness about a local stream. I hope other small watersheds groups will try to do the same. DWQ encourages this type of project and will help when possible. Although we can address of many larger issues, it is really important that local efforts on small watersheds get off the ground when it comes to water quality concerns. Put me on your list.
-- Cam McNutt [Division of Water Quality/DENR]

Thank you for your Stream Watch proposal form. I have Stream Watch metal signs and... I will have to special order the smaller sign which will say "Friends of South Ellerbe Creek". I normally send one sign/group but will send you three. Thanks for keeping an eye on your adopted creek and if I can be of assistance please do not hesitate to call.
-- David [NC Stream Watch/DENR]

Thank you for sending information about your watershed activities! You will be happy to know we have registered the Friends of South Ellerbe Creek in our database. We will be sending a certificate of appreciation in recognition of your group's efforts. Keep up the great work and thanks for your message.
-- Patty Scott [US EPA, Washington, DC]

Terrific website!! It really is great. My pleasure as well to run into you in the neighborhood. I bet our walking paths will cross again and again... I have been in Durham for almost 20 years and had no idea that South Ellerbe runs the long course that it does.
-- Martin [Self-Help Credit Union]

I read with great interest your three e-mails as well as your website. Your neighborhood is very fortunate to have someone like you who is totally committed to a cleaner environment, particularly in your neighborhood creek.
-- B. Wilson [Storm Water Services, Durham]

Hi everyone, I have disappeared since the creek cleanup way back in the spring, but I have been following your work with the creek/greenspace project from afar. It makes me laugh with joy to see how much progress you have made. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you all when I get back to town in November.
-- Emil [US Forest Service/Tongass National Forest, Alaska]

Thank you much for the information! I was looking for a way to involve students, in addition to letter writing, in a current and important environmental concern. Once our community becomes aware as to what is at stake or what the possibilities are for S. Ellerbe Creek, we can begin to involve students in meaningful activities that will make a difference. I have also spoken with two Duke Environmental Education students who volunteer time to work with our fifth grade classes about the issues. It is possible that they can help lead teams to place stickers on storm drains project. I'm really excited about the educational value and the possibilities! Thank you again for you help. I'll let you know when we will be placing stickers on storm drains. Please let me know if we can lend support to the project etc.
-- Treva [E.K. Powe science teacher]

Thank you for sending me this story. I wish more people were as interested in their watersheds as your group is. I am forwarding this message to Darlene Kucken, who manages our Basinwide Management Program, and Alan Clark, who manages our Planning Branch, as it may be of interest to them and their staff.
-- JP [Office of Water Quality/DENR]

Loved the web site(s). Really impressive. Loaded really quickly, easy to use and follow, useful info., not too much. See ya.
-- Steve [former Indy publisher & current E.K. Powe PTA pres]

Nice site -- and great map! the last time I walked from Club Blvd along Ellerbe Creek to the confluence with S. Ellerbee Creek I was struck that a) Ellerbe Creek was in decent shape, at least until the noise of I-85 deafened me, and b) by how horrible S. Ellerbe Creek seemed -- full of trash, shopping carts and tires, and covered with a very foul looking chemical soup. It also reeked of oil or gas down there. Glad I didn't strike a match. It was a horrible experience overall...
Regards,
-- Fred [Northgate Park & Self-Help CU]

This is so wonderful. Everyone in our office came to read your e-mail and now the entire office is excited. I am forwarding it to Lisa Tolley and Linda Rhoads, our river basin adult education team, and I know they will be in touch shortly. You are doing such a great thing - we really do want to be a part of it and perhaps some of our initiatives on "Know Your Ecological Address" can contribute to your work.
-- Ann [Director of Public Education/DENR]

Sure enough! great web page - especially like the kayaker on Ninth! Have you formally adopted this stream? I have informally adopted the Northeast Creek (my sub-basin of the New Hope/Cape Fear) and am working on getting the Carpenter Fletcher Neighborhood Association to formally do the same, in these manners.
-- Pete [EPA & Carpenter-Fletcher neighborhood activist]

Thanks for this information, I don't live around there but I will pass this along to everyone here.
-- Ina [Glaxo-Wellcome]

I'll share with others. Thanks for letting all of us know. I knew nothing of this.
-- Dick [NIEHS environmental committee]

In my official capacity as Executive Director of Durham Central Park, I thank you for your efforts and those of others who showed up for the cleaning of the South Ellerbe Creek last weekend. Although I am sad to say that other clean-ups will have to take place in the future, your group exemplifies what is right about Durham. Keep up the good work.
--With sincerest thanks, Joel Kostyu