Mears Fork
{{Short description|Stream in North Carolina, USA}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Mears Fork
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other = Tributary to Haw River
| name_etymology =
| image =
| image_caption =
| map =
| map_size = 300
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = USA North Carolina#USA
| pushpin_map_size = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Mears Fork mouth
| pushpin_map_alt = Map of Mears Fork mouth location
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = North Carolina
| subdivision_type3 = County
| subdivision_name3 = Guilford
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =
| length = {{convert|7.77|mi|km|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ada349b90c26496ea52aab66a092593b |website=epa.maps.arcgis.com |publisher=US EPA |accessdate=8 October 2019}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location = Haw River
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|14.63|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} at mouth with Haw River{{cite web |title=Mears Fork Watershed Report |url=https://watersgeo.epa.gov/watershedreport/?comid=8889576 |website=Waters Geoviewer |publisher=US EPA |accessdate=8 October 2019}}
| discharge1_max =
| source1 = divide between Mears Fork, Haw River, and Reedy Fork
| source1_location = Summerfield, North Carolina
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|36|12|32|N|079|53|57|W|display=inline}}{{cite web |title=GNIS Detail - Mears Fork |url=https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:989694,Mears%20Fork |website=geonames.usgs.gov |publisher=US Geological Survey |accessdate=8 October 2019}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|878|ft|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=Mears Fork Topo Map, Guilford County NC (Lake Brandt Area) |url=https://www.topozone.com/north-carolina/guilford-nc/stream/mears-fork/ |website=TopoZone |publisher=Locality, LLC |accessdate=8 October 2019 |language=en}}
| mouth = Haw River
| mouth_location = about 2 miles south of Midway, North Carolina
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|36|14|51|N|079|47|04|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|699|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression = Haw River → Cape Fear River → Atlantic Ocean
| river_system = Haw River
| basin_size = {{convert|12.59|sqmi}}
| basin_population =
| tributaries_left = unnamed tributaries
| tributaries_right = unnamed tributaries
| waterbodies =
| bridges = Strawberry Road, Lake Brandt Road, Cedar Ridge Farm Road
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
Mears Fork is a {{convert|7.77|mi|km|abbr=on}} long third order tributary to the Haw River, in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Variant names
According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as:
- Mears Fork Creek
Course
Mears Fork rises on the divide between Mears Fork, Haw River, and Reedy Fork at Summerfield in Guilford County. Mears Fork then flows northeast to meet the Haw River about 2 miles south of Midway, North Carolina.
Watershed
Mears Fork drains {{convert|12.59|sqmi}} of area, receives about 45.7 in/year of precipitation, has a topographic wetness index of 409.05 and is about 50% forested.
Natural History
The Natural Areas Inventory Guilford County, North Carolina and a later addition in 1995{{cite web |title=Natural areas inventory, Guilford County, North Carolina :: State Publications |url=http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p249901coll22/id/658739/rv/singleitem |website=digital.ncdcr.gov |publisher=Guilford County and North Carolina Natural Heritage Foundation |accessdate=8 October 2019}} recognized nine locations of natural significance in the Mears Fork watershed. These sites include:
- Witty Road Wetland (County General Significant)--the location of semi-impermanent impoundment and alluvial forest.
- Cummings Dairy Beaver Pond (County General Significant)--the location of a shrub swamp from an old beaver pond.
- Strader Road Beaver Pond (County General Significant)--the location of a beaver pond.
- Trailing Cedar Farm (County High Significant)--the location of wetland and forested communities with rare species.
- Burnt Oaks (County General Significant)--the location of beaver pond wetlands and forested slopes.
- Mears Fork at Lake Brandt Road (County High Significant)--the location of a mature Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest and Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest.
- Cedar Hollow Alluvial Forest (County Low Significant)--the location of Piedmont Alluvial Forest.
- Mear Fork at Church Street (County General Significant)--the location of mature Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest.
- Church Street Ginseng Slope (County General Significant)--the location of a mature Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/preserving-guilford-s-green/article_22ff4f55-60bf-5d64-a050-bbaad728bdad.html Article about Open Space preservation along Mears Fork]
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Category:Rivers of North Carolina
Category:Rivers of Guilford County, North Carolina
{{NorthCarolina-river-stub}}