Dye Branch

Dye Branch is a small creek that runs from Duke University's East Campus, through the Trinity Heights, Walltown, and Old West Durham neighborhoods of Durham, North Carolina. From its headwaters near the Food Lion on Hillsborough Road, Dye Branch (also known as South Ellerbe Creek) flows for three miles (5 km) through some of Durham's oldest and most densely developed neighborhoods: Old West Durham, Walltown, Northgate Park, and Trinity Park. South Ellerbe joins Ellerbe Creek in a small forest—just northwest of the I-85/Roxboro Road interchange. Along some wooded stretches, the creek quietly flows over rocks and is as scenic as any in western North Carolina. In other areas, South Ellerbe is a troubled creek. Its history is marred by rampant pollution and devastating abuse. Though community organizations have arisen to advocate on behalf of the small drainage in recent years, future developments pose significant challenges.