Posted on April 14, 2025
Spillway replacement and dam reconstruction on Mirror Lake began at the University of Connecticut over spring break with workers fencing the project site. The work is expected to last around a year and is starting eight months later than predicted.
Initial drafts of the improvement involved hydraulic dredging as one action addressing safety concerns regarding the lake’s water quality and flooding concerns. Dredging increases water capacity by removing sediment and debris from the bottom of a body of water according to the NOAA. Challenges in the budget required a redesign of the plan that held off on the dredging and delayed construction, according to UConn Today.
Stephanie Reitz, University of Connecticut spokesperson, said that this redesigned plan for financial responsibility doesn’t detract from the demand for dredging.
“The project was delayed as UConn reviewed its financial constraints and determined that the proposal involving fully dredging Mirror Lake was cost prohibitive at this time,” Reitz said in an email to The Daily Campus. “While we agree on its benefits, the resources were needed elsewhere as we prioritize our academic and research missions and our student services amid budget challenges.”
The revised plan under construction focuses on repairing the dam and spillway of Mirror Lake instead of dredging according to the record of decision. The repairs come as a response to the safety concerns brought up in a 2019 DEEP survey that classified the lake as a hazard according to the Hartford Courant.
According to UConn Today, sediment runoff contributed to the hazardous conditions by reducing the capacity of Mirror Lake. As a result, water was overflowing near the spillway and pooling up in drainage pipes downstream. A spillway is defined by Brazos River Authority as a part of a dam designed for water to flow freely over the dam during floods.
A StoryMap created by UConn faculty for an environmental storytelling course said that the hazardous conditions of the lake can be explained by the history of development around Storrs.
“Runoff increases with development because, while rainwater can be absorbed by natural groundcover like trees, grasses, and shrubs, rainwater cannot be absorbed by impervious surfaces like buildings, streets, parking lots, and other paved surfaces,” the StoryMap explained.
The spillway for Mirror Lake getting ready for a portable dam system according to Stephanie Reitz.
Based on an email with Reitz, only some of the sediment causing this overflow can be characterized by human development.
“The material that has built up on the lake’s bottom is a deep layer of muck containing sediment (dirt, sand, etc.) that has flowed into the river over time along with leaves and other vegetation, waste from the ducks and birds that frequent the lake, and other runoff,” said Reitz in an email.
The ducks and birds who frequent the lake and create sediment demonstrate a natural presence of solid particles in water from wildlife sources. On the other hand, the dirt and sand creating that layer of muck is likely instigated by the increasing delivery of sediment to streams that roads deliver according to the U.S. Forest Service.
While the construction is for improving the lake’s ecosystem, the process UConn has to go through to make these changes won’t come without its downsides according to the record of decision for Mirror Lake improvements. These downsides include “Limited unavoidable temporary impacts are anticipated during the construction phase, including construction-related impacts to traffic, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, aesthetics, turbidity, and stormwater.”
Stephanie Reitz explained how UConn will manage some of these obstacles for students, saying that “…Route 195 will not be closed during the work. The work will be paused during the biggest high-traffic periods on campus (Commencement, move-out from dorms, move-in next fall, etc.),” she said.
Reitz said that students may see workers near the dam, spillway, or in the water as they set up temporary dams and other equipment, but there’s no reason to be concerned.
