Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

What Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association does

Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 in Durham, North Carolina, focused on permanently protecting and restoring the 37-square-mile Ellerbe Creek watershed. Over 25 years, ECWA has assembled a portfolio of approximately 500 acres across five public nature preserves — 17-Acre Wood, Beaver Marsh, Glennstone, Pearl Mill, and The Rocks — delivered through three program areas: Land Protection (permanent conservation easements and acquisitions), Land Conservation (habitat restoration, invasive species management, prescribed burns, and wetland/forest restoration), and Community Engagement (volunteer stewardship, equitable access to nature, and environmental justice-oriented programming). All preserves are open to the public free of charge from dawn to dusk, serving Durham-area residents, marginalized communities, and environmental volunteers as primary stakeholders.

ECWA's technology stack is minimal: a Squarespace-hosted website, social media accounts, a monthly email newsletter, and a third-party Bonfire merchandise storefront. There are no proprietary digital platforms, AI/ML systems, or APIs. Revenue is generated through sustaining-donor memberships, one-time donations, recurring giving, and branded merchandise sales, with grant funding from foundations (Triangle Community Foundation, REI, Duke Energy Foundation, North Carolina Land and Water Fund) historically underwriting land acquisitions and trail infrastructure. Partnerships with the City of Durham, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Triangle Native American Society, Eno River Association, and Triangle Land Conservancy extend ECWA's operational reach.

As of early 2025, ECWA is in severe financial distress: the Board initiated dissolution proceedings in January 2025, the organization has downsized to one part-time staff member plus volunteers and Board oversight, and is actively fundraising to meet two $75,000 targets (by August 31 and November 30, 2025) to stabilize operations or transition stewardship to a successor entity.

Name

Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Legal name

Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Website

https://ellerbecreek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association is a Durham, NC nonprofit that protects and restores approximately 500 acres across five public nature preserves in the Ellerbe Creek watershed through land conservation, habitat restoration, and community-based stewardship programs funded by donations, memberships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation
• Habitat restoration
• Land protection
• Nature preserve management
• Environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: ECWA relies on donations from sustaining donors and members who support the organization's work year-round. Members receive benefits including access to deals on ECWA merchandise and exclusive events.
2. Merchandise Sales: ECWA sells merchandise including shirts and gear through Bonfire. Proceeds fund habitat restoration, water quality improvement projects, and educational programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ECWA permanently protects and actively restores land in the 37-square-mile Ellerbe Creek watershed in Durham, NC, operating five public nature preserves (17-Acre Wood, Beaver Marsh, Glennstone, Pearl Mill, and The Rocks) and delivering habitat restoration, invasive species management, and wetland/forest stewardship. Programming is anchored in community-based engagement, volunteer preserve stewardship, and environmental education to advance equitable access to nature. Funding is generated through sustaining-donor memberships, one-time donations, and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association operates five nature preserves across Durham, NC: 17-Acre Wood, Beaver Marsh, Glennstone, Pearl Mill, and The Rocks. The organization delivers conservation through three core programs: Land Conservation (habitat restoration, invasive species management, wetland and forest restoration), Community Engagement (equitable access to nature, environmental justice), and Land Protection (permanent preservation of watershed land). ECWA also operates a merchandise store selling branded apparel to fund restoration work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature Preserves Public Access Program Free public access to five nature preserves in Durham, NC (17-Acre Wood, Beaver Marsh, Glennstone, Pearl Mill, and The Rocks), open from dawn to dusk for hiking, biking, birdwatching, and outdoor recreation, and serving as the organization's primary public-facing conservation service.
• ECWA Merchandise Store Branded merchandise (shirts, gear) sold online through Bonfire, with proceeds funding habitat restoration, water quality improvement projects, and educational programs.
• Sustaining-Donor Membership Program Recurring sustaining-donor memberships that fund ECWA's year-round work, with member benefits including access to deals on ECWA shirts and gear, exclusive events in preserves not yet open to the public, and discounts on event tickets.
• Volunteer Stewardship and Preserve Workday Program Community-based volunteer program including scheduled volunteer workdays, the Preserve Stewards program, and hands-on habitat restoration, invasive species management, and preserve maintenance activities for Durham residents and environmental stewards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected close to 500 acres of land over 25 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Triangle Native American SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Triangle Native American Society has stepped forward to partner with ECWA during the organization's time of transition and remains a stabilizing force as ECWA downsizes. This partnership is critical to ECWA's survival efforts.
• Duke Energy CorporationminorOthersDuke Energy Corporation donated the original three acres for Pearl Mill Preserve in 2006, which was the foundation for the current five-acre preserve.
• City of DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECWA collaborates with the City of Durham on land protection programs and creek restoration projects, including the major creek restoration project at 17-Acre Wood.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlennstone Preserve borders land protected by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is part of the connection to the Ellerbe Creek Trail system.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: A national nonprofit that works with communities to protect land for public use, including urban parks and trails. Highly comparable to ECWA's mission of permanent land protection with public access in urban contexts.
• The Nature Conservancy (North Carolina): A global conservation nonprofit with an active North Carolina chapter that acquires and manages natural lands. It is a broad incumbent in the conservation space and represents the scaled, well-funded end of ECWA's mission category.
• Conservation Trust for North Carolina: The statewide land trust consortium supporting local land trusts across North Carolina. Comparable to ECWA at a state scale, providing shared services and representing the broader category ECWA operates within.
• American Rivers: A national nonprofit focused specifically on river and watershed conservation. Closely aligned with ECWA's watershed-centric identity and represents a national-scale analog of the same niche.

Regional players

• Catawba Lands Conservancy: A land trust serving the greater Charlotte/Catawba region of North Carolina. Comparable as a regional land-conservation nonprofit with permanent land protection, but operating in a different NC geography than ECWA.
• Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy: A western North Carolina land trust protecting natural lands in the southern Appalachians. Comparable as a regional land trust with similar permanent-protection and stewardship models, but serving a different NC region.

Direct peers

• Haw River Assembly: A North Carolina watershed advocacy and conservation nonprofit for the Haw River. Closely comparable in mission (watershed protection), geography (NC Piedmont), and organizational scale (small nonprofit, community-led).
• Eno River Association: A Triangle-area nonprofit focused on protecting the Eno River watershed in Durham/Orange counties. ECWA lists Eno River Association as a collaborative conservation partner, and both operate as watershed-based land conservation nonprofits in the same metro area.
• Triangle Land Conservancy: A regional land trust serving the Triangle area, partnering with ECWA on nature preserve conservation. It is a direct peer in mission (permanent land protection, nature preserves) and geography, and a likely candidate to receive ECWA assets in any stewardship transition.

Others

• City of Durham Parks and Recreation: The municipal parks department already collaborating with ECWA on land protection and creek restoration. Comparable as a local public-sector steward of parks and natural areas, and a likely recipient of ECWA assets in a stewardship transition scenario.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EllerbeCreek
• Instagraminstagram.com/ellerbecreek
• Xx.com/ellerbecreek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ellerbe-creek-watershed-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association