# Mears Fork

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mears_Fork.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mears_Fork
> Source revision: 1319777111
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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 & MAP -->
| 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 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1   = Country
| subdivision_name1   = [United States](/source/United_States)
| subdivision_type2   = State
| subdivision_name2   = [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina)
| subdivision_type3   = County
| subdivision_name3   = [Guilford](/source/Guilford_County%2C_North_Carolina)
| subdivision_type4   = 
| subdivision_name4   = 
| subdivision_type5   = 
| subdivision_name5   = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICALCHARACTERISTICS -->
| 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](/source/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      = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1             = divide between Mears Fork, [Haw River](/source/Haw_River), and [Reedy Fork](/source/Reedy_Fork_(Haw_River_tributary))
| source1_location    = [Summerfield, North Carolina](/source/Summerfield%2C_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](/source/Haw_River)
| mouth_location      = about 2 miles south of [Midway, North Carolina](/source/Midway%2C_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](/source/Haw_River) → [Cape Fear River](/source/Cape_Fear_River) → [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean)
| river_system        = [Haw River](/source/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](/source/Haw_River), in [Guilford County, North Carolina](/source/Guilford_County%2C_North_Carolina).

==Variant names==
According to the [Geographic Names Information System](/source/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](/source/Reedy_Fork_(Haw_River_tributary)) at [Summerfield](/source/Summerfield%2C_North_Carolina) in [Guilford County](/source/Guilford_County%2C_North_Carolina).  Mears Fork then flows northeast to meet the Haw River about 2 miles south of [Midway, North Carolina](/source/Midway%2C_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](/source/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](/source/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]

{{authority control}}

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

{{NorthCarolina-river-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mears Fork](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mears_Fork) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mears_Fork?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.