For many, the Eno River may just be that — a river. But as the Eno River flows through Durham, every one of its 33 miles faces growing threats from urban development to the warming planet.

As development in Orange and Durham counties continues to boom, the Eno River Association (ERA) has had to work hard to keep up.

Founded in 1966, the ERA has established itself as a community-oriented land trust and conservation nonprofit. For almost 60 years, the association has worked to protect more than 7,500 acres of land along the Eno River in Orange and Durham Counties.

The work of the ERA has been central in the creation of four of the largest contiguous areas of protected land along the Eno River. Including the Eno River State Park, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, West Point on the Eno City Park and the Confluence Natural Area. These lands provide protected habitats for wildlife as well as more than 55 miles of trails and river access for the community to enjoy.

“The river inspires a strong sense of relationship. From the bafflingly biodiverse array of plant, animal, and fungus species, to the people who have lived on the land and the people who steward it today,” said Tori Velasquez, ERA development and communications contractor.

But those relationships stand in jeopardy as development accelerates in the Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

“Natural space throughout the state is disappearing,” said Indigo Roper-Edwards, land stewardship manager. “North Carolina is estimated to have the second-greatest rate of farmland loss among all the states.”

According to N.C. State Extension’s N.C. FarmLink, N.C. farmland loss is estimated to be close to 1.2 million acres by 2040 under the “business as usual” development scenario. Development also often creates ground surfaces that fail to properly absorb water, leading to destructive flooding.

Development isn’t the only threat to the work of the ERA; climate change is also reshaping the land and the communities that depend on it.

“Through education and climate-resilient land management strategies, we are shoring up our community to weather the negative impacts of climate change,” said Hillary Harrison, director of education and management.

The significance of these strategies was made clear in July, when Tropical Storm Chantal brought heavy flooding to the Eno.

According to a statement on the ERA website, the river’s water levels rose to more than 25.5 feet, surpassing the previous record by more than 2 feet. Parks and preserves were left underwater. The surrounding communities faced major damage to homes and storefronts, with eighty residents having to be rescued by boat.

When the water finally receded, the ERA worked to mobilize volunteers to clear trails and assist in clean-up efforts along the Eno. Working alongside the Eno River State Park and the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the ERA helped to reopen public spaces that had been severely damaged in the storm.

But Chantal was not an isolated event. According to the ERA, the likelihood of extreme weather events is rising.

“The painfully simple truth is that rising temperatures means greater rates of evaporation, which means more moisture in the atmosphere, which means more intense storms and heavier rainfall,” said Audrey Gentry, the ERA’s education manager, in a statement on the association’s website.

While development and climate change continue to create new challenges, the ERA has positioned itself to withstand the storm.

With the support of volunteers, the association can step in when state and federal resources fall short — helping maintain trails and keep public lands open to visitors. The association’s independence also allows it to advocate against development and zoning decisions that might threaten the river and the land around it, ensuring that conservation remains a community-driven effort.

“To feel connected with the Eno is to feel connected with community,” said Velasquez.

For the ERA, education programming is a key part of its mission. Through programs such as summer camp, school classroom visits and field trips to the Eno, the ERA teaches the next generation how to be good stewards of their communities.

Guided hikes, public workshops and stewardship workdays offer locals opportunities in hands-on ways to get involved with the ERA. Learning about the history and ecology of the land they live on enables communities to build a deeper sense of connection and responsibility to the Eno.

The Eno River is more than just water flowing through Durham and Orange counties — it’s a shared resource that knits communities together. The ERA’s work ensures the river can continue to provide people with a place to connect, despite the threat of storms and sprawl, and a reason to care for the natural world around them.

“The more people have a personal relationship to the river, the safer it is,” said Velasquez.