Mirror Lake Dam
Mirror Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Burlington County, New Jersey, built in 1880. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Mirror Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Mirror Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Township Of Pemberton (local government). It impounds the Rancocas Creek near Pemberton.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 215 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 36 square miles. Completed in 1880, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/13/2023.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Jersey dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| Nearest City | Pemberton |
| River/Stream | Rancocas Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.96823, -74.57968 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 215 acres |
| Drainage Area | 36 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 193 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Township of Pemberton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00458 |
| Federal ID | NJ00458 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |