Mirror Lake dam
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake, also known as Number 10 Pond, is a picturesque water resource located in Calais, Vermont. This private lake serves as a popular recreational spot, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water activities. Built in 1820, the dam at Mirror Lake stands at 8 feet tall and spans 125 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 540 acre-feet.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Mirror Lake is facing challenges in terms of its condition and hazard potential. The dam has been assessed as poor, with a significant hazard potential, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The last inspection in 2015 revealed the dam's deteriorating condition, prompting the need for risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mirror Lake presents an intriguing case study of balancing recreational use with dam safety and maintenance. As a vital part of the local ecosystem and community, efforts to preserve and protect Mirror Lake are essential to ensure its continued enjoyment for future generations. With its stunning natural beauty and historical significance, Mirror Lake serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Mirror Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 115 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 571 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Waterbury | 290 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 228 cfs | → |
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 7 cfs | → |
| Dog River At Northfield Falls | 111 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mirror Lake.
Boat launches
- G A R Road 285, Calais
- Nelson Pond Road Woodbury
- Justa Road Calais
- Molly's Pond Boat Launch
- Peacham Pond Boat Ramp
- North Pond Road Walden
Campgrounds
- New Discovery State Park
- Elmore State Park
- Big Deer State Park
- Lake Elmore State Park
- Stillwater State Park
- Ricker Pond State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
Track Mirror Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Mirror Lake
Where does the data for Mirror Lake come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Mirror Lake.