Abbotts Creek (North Carolina)

This article is about the stream. For the township, see Abbotts Creek Township, Forsyth County, North Carolina.
"Abbotts Creek" redirects here. For the stream in New Jersey, see Abbots Creek.
Abbotts Creek
Tributary to Yadkin River
Abbotts Creek section of High Rock Lake North Carolina
Abbotts Creek (North Carolina) is located in North Carolina
Abbotts Creek (North Carolina)
Location of Abbotts Creek mouth
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesDavidson
Forsyth
Physical characteristics
Sourcedivide between Abbotts Creek and Belews Creek (Dan River tributary)
 • locationKernersville, North Carolina[2]
 • coordinates36°07′06″N 080°04′15″W / 36.11833°N 80.07083°W / 36.11833; -80.07083[1]
 • elevation1,000 ft (300 m)[3]
MouthYadkin River (High Rock Lake)
 • location
High Rock Lake[2]
 • coordinates
35°37′43″N 080°15′48″W / 35.62861°N 80.26333°W / 35.62861; -80.26333[1]
 • elevation
624 ft (190 m)[3]
Length45.45 mi (73.14 km)[4]
Basin size223.6 square miles (579 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • locationHigh Rock Lake (Yadkin River)
 • average220.54 cu ft/s (6.245 m3/s) at mouth with High Rock Lake[6]
Basin features
Progressiongenerally south
River systemYadkin River
Tributaries 
 • leftCuddybum Branch
Rich Fork
Pounder Fork
Buddle Branch
 • rightSpurgeon Creek
Reedy Run
Brushy Fork
Leonard Creek
WaterbodiesLake Thom-A-Lex
High Rock Lake

Abbotts Creek starts in Kernersville, NC in Forsyth County and flows into High Rock Lake near Lexington, NC in Davidson County just north of Hwy 47. The section of High Rock Lake that is officially Abbotts Creeks ends near the Hwy 8 causeway, in Southmont, NC.

The median flow at Lexington ranges from 50 to 200 cubic feet per second.[7] While it only provides a relatively small amount of water that enters the lake, it provides a significant fraction of the total surface area of the lake and hosts a large community of lake front homes, as well as provides significant habitat for fish and wildlife. The upper sections of the lake at Abbotts Creek do not have lake front properties and are considered prime area for sports fishing, particularly largemouth bass and catfish.

The lake, up to the high water mark is under the control of Alcoa and is managed under contract granted by the US government.

  1. ^ a b "GNIS Detail - Abbotts Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Abbotts Creek Topo Map, Davidson County NC (Southmont Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Abbotts Creek Topo Map, Davidson County NC (Southmont Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  4. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Abbotts Creek Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Abbotts Creek Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  7. ^ USGS Real-Time Water Data for USGS 02121500 ABBOTTS CREEK AT LEXINGTON, NC