The Little River
A River Worth Protecting
The Little River flows from northern Orange County southeast to the Little River
Reservoir in Durham county, where it serves as the main source of water for Durham
residents. It then joins the Eno River which becomes the Neuse River at Falls Lake. The
Little River is one of the cleanest in the state, with vibrant aquatic habitat for otter,
beaver, rare freshwater mussels and many other species. Sycamores, river birches and other
riparian trees edge its banks. From their branches, indigenous and migratory
birds—among them tanagers, warblers, whippoorwills and woodpeckers nest, feed, fly
and sing. People can hike some of the loveliest land in Orange County along the Little
River or kayak on its white water rapids.
The Pressures of Development
For years, the historically rural area of the Little River has been privately owned and
maintained in a wild state. Without the pressures of development, it has remained
undisturbed and wild, and the river's waters have remained relatively pristine. However,
Durham and Orange are two of the most rapidly growing counties in North Carolina, and it
is inevitable that some if not most of the privately owned property on the Little River
will be sold and densely developed if we don't act now!
ERA and TLC Step Forward to Preserve the Little River
After an assessment, TLC and the Eno River Association (ERA) concluded that one of the
most important tracts along the Little River is the 391-acre Newton Tract. This tract, a
gift from George Newton to the Triangle Community Foundation, includes a mile and a half
of river frontage and an existing wildlife corridor in an essential and threatened area.
The Triangle Community Foundation is now selling the land to fund other educational and
philanthropic needs in the community.
In an unprecedented cooperative effort in the Triangle, ERA and TLC joined together
with Orange and Durham counties to purchase the tract as a regional nature preserve with
trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Durham and Orange counties will
own and manage the land.
A Worthwhile Investment
Preserving the Newton Tract of the Little River will provide Triangle residents and
visitors with a place for hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, and kayaking. Wildlife
and natural habitats will be protected. Preservation will reduce pollution and protect
water quality downriver.
While protection of our natural heritage is important, it is also expensive. The total
purchase price of the Newton Tract is slightly more than $1 million. The state and local
governments have made substantial financial commitments to the project, but they need help
from citizens who care about open space. The NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the NC
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and Durham and Orange counties are together contributing
$830,000 toward the project. TLC and ERA have pledged to raise $180,000 to complete the
purchase and make the park a reality. The preservation of the Newton Tract is just the
beginning; TLC and ERA plan to work together in the future to protect even more land along
the Little River!
ERA and TLC's History of Successful Conservation
Founded in 1965, the Eno River Association (ERA) is one of the oldest land trusts in
North Carolina, focusing its efforts on the Eno and Little River Basins, protecting more
than 3000 acres. Two parks have been established because of ERA's efforts: Eno River State
Park and West Point on the Eno, a Durham City Park. ERA protects land through acquisition
of property and conservation easements, by helping create public policy and by providing
information to the general public. ERA hosts the 21 year-old three day Festival for the
Eno, North Carolina's premier 4th of July celebration. The Festival features the Eno River
as well as North Carolina musicians and craftsmen and benefits environmental work in the
region.
Founded in 1983, the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) is working to
create a network of open space and natural areas in Durham, Orange,
Wake, Chatham, Johnston, and Lee counties. TLC now protects more than
2100 acres of land in 34 preserves throughout the Triangle, including
two working farms, a bald cypress swamp, the rare ecosystem associated
with a granite outcropping, streams and tributaries in rapidly
urbanizing areas, and a monadnock topped by huge boulders. TLC also
helps local governments and landowners recognize the special places in
our region and by advocating for policies and programs to protect them.
Copyright © 2006-2008, Triangle Land Conservancy
Last updated on
12/21/2006. | |
