Did You Know?

• Mirror Lake is a 65-acre lake straddling the towns of Wrentham and Norfolk, Mass.
• Approximately 85% of the lake is in Wrentham; the remaining 15% sits in Norfolk
• Unlike nearby Lake Pearl and Lake Archer (large deep kettle ponds), Mirror Lake was created 100 years ago via a dam on the Norfolk side. It feeds the critical Charles River Watershed.
• Mirror Lake's current average depth is 4-6 feet, a result of severe eutrophication (e.g. organic matter build up on the lakebed). This causes the the lake get shallower every year

• Mirror Lake is a PUBLIC gem of a lake open to all community members and visitors. There is no fee or association required to enjoy the lake. Read more about lake recreation
• Current public access points are a free public beach and boat ramp in Norfolk, used almost daily by Wrentham & Norfolk residents who do not live on the lake
• There are private homes and properties surrounding much of the lake. However, each town owns sizeable waterfront: Wrentham owns two islands and approximately 200ft. of wooded waterfront, and Norfolk owns the free public beach, dam and boat launch area 

• Years of neglect prior to 2017 resulted in an unmanaged build up of organic matter and explosive aquatic plant growth
• Since 2020, the towns of Wrentham and Norfolk have graciously funded annual treatment of invasive aquatic plants in Mirror Lake. While this helps prevent the annual the explosion of plant growth across the lake, these efforts do not resolve the broader build-up of organic matter on the lakebed itself
• A 2022 TRC study confirmed four Wrentham storm drains dump unfiltered water into the lake with extremely high phosphorus levels, feeding explosive weed growth
• TRC also conducted a limited Phase I Lake Bottom Sediment Analysis (funded by Wrentham Conservation Preservation Commission), involving taking core samples
• The analysis showed 15-20 ft. of soft sediment in some areas before hitting hard lake bottom, meaning that the lake is actually 25-30 ft. deep in some areas.
• The TRC report also suggested that the lake could be a strong candidate for dredging, but a detailed lake-wide Phase II Analysis is required to be certain. The federal EPA and MA DEP both require the Phase II feasibility study before any dredging can be approved or funded. 
• In 2024, Friends of Mirror Lake led a community-wide campaign to secure Wrentham Town funding for a portion of the Phase II feasibility study, resulting in the successful passage of Town funds for this cause during the Oct. 2024 Wrentham Town Meeting. Campaign efforts are now pivoting to convince the Town of Norfolk to fund the remaining portion (which they initially signaled they would, contingent if the Town of Wrentham also agreed to fund).
• If the Phase II Analysis study is funded and results continue to show Mirror Lake is is a strong candidate for dredging, the Friends of Mirror Lake would seek Federal and State funds for any dredging work following approval from both towns
• Without a long-term solution, only annual weed treatment can be achieved while the lake slowly converts to a swampy wetland 

1. Convince both towns to fund the Phase II Analysis to determine options (Wrentham Town funding secured Oct. 2024; Norfolk Town Funding up for vote Spring 2025)
2. Secure Norfolk Town Funding to repair the dam and dike (Phase 1 funding secured Nov. 2024)
3. Conduct the analysis
4. Obtain State & Federal Funding For The Recommended Solution
5. Save Mirror Lake Using Phase II Results & Recommendations

1. Wrentham Planning Board about potential loss of grants
2. Wrentham Voter Guide about MBTA Communities
3. Article discussing stoppage of project funding for communities that don't comply
4. Wrentham / Norfolk Times media articles about the topic: Story 1, Story 2, Story 3

Not finding the answers you need here? Email Friends of Mirror Lake board member, Nancy Yannuzzi: nansearows@gmail.com