Mirror Lake Dam dam
Mirror Lake Dam
Mirror Lake Dam, located in Meriden, Connecticut, is a picturesque masonry dam that was completed in 1949 for the primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 20 feet and spanning 500 feet in length, this dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 66 acre-feet with a surface area of 7.6 acres. Situated on Crow Hollow Brook, the dam is regulated by the state agency DEEP and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Mirror Lake Dam is classified as having significant hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of risk management measures to mitigate any potential dangers. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam poses a certain level of risk that must be actively monitored and addressed. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and its adherence to guidelines remain unspecified, highlighting the need for preparedness and communication in case of emergencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mirror Lake Dam serves as both a recreational site and a critical piece of infrastructure that requires ongoing attention and maintenance to safeguard against potential hazards. Its location in a scenic area in New Haven County, surrounded by natural beauty, underscores the importance of responsible dam operation and vigilant risk management practices to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding community.
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 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 12 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 88 cfs | → |
| Coginchaug River At Middlefield | 16 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 18 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 202 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 303 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mirror Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
- Seymour Reservoir Number 2
- Reservoir Number 1
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
Track Mirror Lake Dam 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 Dam
Where does the data for Mirror Lake Dam 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 Dam.