Below are plots showing temperature, dissolved oxygen, and chloride data through 2024. AFC staff sample Mirror Lake on a bi-weekly basis during the open water season and during the winter. We have published detailed reports on the water quality of Mirror Lake. This work is done in close partnership with the Adirondack Watershed Institute.
Mirror Lake Temperature
Mirror Lake Dissolved Oxygen
Mirror Lake has experienced hypoxic conditions (<2 mg/L) every year since we began recording data. Understanding the extent, duration, and cause of hypoxia is important to maintaining the health of many aquatic organisms, including fish.
Mirror Lake Chloride
Road salt is one of the major threats to Mirror Lake. When salt-laden runoff enters the lake it settles to the bottom. This can be observed during each winter. That build-up of salt persists through the summer if the lake does not turn over in the spring. The lack of turnover exacerbates the hypoxic conditions mentioned above, threatening the fish and other organisms living in the lake. Our scientific peer-reviewed paper linked the lack of spring turnover to the buildup of salt at the bottom of the lake.
How to read the plot below: The plot below depicts changes in the measured parameter over both space (through the water column) and time. The x-axis is time, looking across the plot from left to right gives a sense of how the lake has changed over time. The y-axis is depth in the water column, the top of the plot is the surface of the lake and the bottom of the plot is the bottom of the lake. The colors inside the plot represent chloride concentrations, a key is on the right side of the plot.
Mirror Lake Conditions
Funding for this work is provided by the New York State Department of State, Cloudsplitter Foundation, Village of Lake Placid, Town of North Elba, IRONMAN Foundation, Mirror Lake Watershed Association, and Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort. For more information on our work on Mirror Lake email : contactus@ausablecenter.org.
