Mirror Lake Dam dam
Mirror Lake Dam
Mirror Lake Dam is a crucial structure located in Herkimer, New York, designed for flood risk reduction along the TR-WEST CANADA CREEK. Owned by the state of New York, the dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. Despite its importance, the dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition and has a high hazard potential.
The dam, built of earth, plays a vital role in mitigating flood risks in the area, but its poor condition raises concerns about its ability to withstand potential disasters. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) is responsible for regulating, inspecting, and enforcing safety measures at the dam. However, with a high risk assessment and a history of poor condition, there is a need for immediate attention and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the integrity of the dam.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, the importance of maintaining and updating infrastructure like Mirror Lake Dam becomes increasingly evident. With a high hazard potential and a history of poor condition, proactive measures and investments in the dam's maintenance and improvements are crucial to safeguarding against potential flooding and ensuring the long-term resilience of the area.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| West Canada Creek At Kast Bridge Ny | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Steele Cr At Ilion Ny | 26 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River Near Little Falls Ny | 2,010 cfs | → |
| East Canada Creek At East Creek Ny | 29 cfs | → |
| Otsquago Creek At Fort Plain Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Canajoharie Creek Nr Canajoharie Ny | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mirror Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Washington Street Herkimer
- Mohawk River
- Chittning Pond
- Public Boat Launch
- Delta Lake State Park Town Of Western
Campgrounds
- St. Johnsville Campsite And Marina
- Glimmerglass State Park
- Caroga Lake - Dec
- Delta Lake State Park
- Pixley Falls State Park
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 High 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.