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On page 88 the report also recommends an Eno River Wilderness and an ~o River Park. With reference to the Eno River Wilderness the report recommends that "the land necessary for the successful preservation of this area (in northeastern Orange County) . be acquired by the State for operation as a unit of the North, Carolina State Park System". With reference to the Eno River Park the report suggests that "the essential responsibility for the Eno Park project lies with the City of Durham". This ends our historical report. M~. Amick will now use some maps to show you the present statue of Durham's efforts to preserve the Ehc." "February 5, 1973 This letter is written at the request of Manor Hawkins and the members aP the City Counoil of Durham in response to your December 6 letter written in behalf of the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County. This supplements my Deoember 11, 1972 letter to you. Cver a long period of gears the City of Durham has been purchasing property along the~IIlo River. The Fho was once the source of Durham's water supply and has long been looked to by the City as one possible future water source. In fast the City never relinquished its ownership of the ~.3 acre tract on the river at Nancy Rhodes' Branch where the old water works were located. In 1962, as you know, the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission published "A General Plan for the Development of the Research Triangle Region as Affeoted by Waste Disposal and Water Reaouraes". This report proposed an "Fho River Dam" with lake elevation at 40C feet above sea level and pointed out that "the proposed development could provide important recreational facilities". By the middle 1960's the northward growth of Durham led the City to conceive the additional idea of a riverside park downstream from the dam site in the area moat threatened by residential and commercial development. A plan was drawn, and land purchases were begun. In 1969 came the new "Research Triangle Region Development Guide" and re- _ affirmation of the Planning Com¢aisaion's advocacy of Lake EQO but with some #lzrther propoeala, including; (e) a municipal riverside park extending down the Eno to Fella of the Neuae Lake, (b) a large state park upstream from Lake Eno in Orange County and (c) protection by Durham of future water supply sources on the Flat River and Little River. All of the land which has been bought by the City during this period was bought with federal financial assistance, and each federal assistance project has had the concurrence of the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission and its successor, the Triangle J Council of Governments. In 1972 Durham moved toward making the upper Flat River its next water source. A consulting engineer was obtained and a series of negotiations was initiated with Raleigh about a joint development on the Flat. Durham's Lake Michie should suffice until 1980-85 but no longer. For more water Durham is looking uphill at clean water sources on the Flat, Little and Eno and even ci.ownhill to poorer-quality water on the Neuse and New Hope. Everywhere we look, some folks object. We will investigate every alternative to uae of the Eno as Durham's next water supply. The Triangle T Council of Governments has announced that it also will take a new look at the various water supply sources which might cona.eivably be made available for Durham and other cities and towns in this area. The City of Durham will cooperate fully with any studies made by the Council oP Govern manta in this connection. It was apparently about 1970 that the State Forks Committee of the Board of Conservation and Development took an interest in the idea of s state park on the brio. On October 28, 1970 the Chairman of the Committee told me that the Board would be in touch .with the City of Durham before reaching a final deciaiori about establishing a state park. He stated the desire of the Board - not to interfere with Durham's water supply plans. , On March 8, 1971 the Superintendent of State Parks wrote me a letter saying, "Tf we were to establish a state paxk along the Eno River, it should be done ~ in such a way that any project we might plan would complement what the County and City of Durham plans to do rather than compete or conflict". The State has bought no land on the Fho as far as we know.