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}}<ref name="geoviewer">{{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}}</ref> | 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<ref name="watershed">{{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}}</ref> | 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}}<ref name="GNIS">{{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}}</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|878|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="MFTopozone">{{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}}</ref> | 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}}<ref name="GNIS"/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|699|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="MFTopozone"/> | progression = Haw River → Cape Fear River → Atlantic Ocean | river_system = Haw River | basin_size = {{convert|12.59|sqmi}}<ref name="watershed"/> | 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:<ref name="GNIS"/> *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.<ref name="MFTopozone"/>

==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.<ref name="watershed"/>

==Natural history== The Natural Areas Inventory Guilford County, North Carolina and a later addition in 1995<ref name="GCNAI">{{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}}</ref> 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== *List of rivers of North Carolina

==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]

Category:Rivers of North Carolina Category:Rivers of Guilford County, North Carolina

Mears Fork

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