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Rebecoming Mirror Lake
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: Winter 2025 | Photograph By: Matthew Eberz, Heritage Productions
Highlands’ Mirror Lake is undergoing a restoration to its former, pristine glory.
Good things come to those who wait and, we might add, persevere.
This is certainly true of the Mirror Lake Improvements Association and their long and arduous effort to restore Mirror Lake to its former glory.
Throughout the years, Mirror Lake has slowly been suffocated by silt which has reduced the once pristine lake to a shadow of its former glory.
The Mirror Lake Improvements Association was formed in the 1990s to raise funds to dredge the lake.
Mayor Pat Taylor says, “The effort to dredge Mirror Lake has been in the works for nearly 30 years. Phase 1 of the dredging project is funded by the Mirror Lake Improvement Association. It is now underway. The remaining phases will be administered by the Town of Highlands using $5 million in state funds. The dredging will take several years. The project will restore the lake and improve water quality for the Plateau watershed.”
Equipment has now been moved into place by RiverSand Inc., the company tasked with Phase One of dredging, and a staging area set up where the silt will be piped into large membrane bags, through which clean water will be drained back into the lake. The silt will then be removed.
John Bryant, a representative of RiverSand, says that the project is off to a great start, but further work won’t proceed until spring when warmer weather permits.
They anticipate Phase One to be complete by summer and John says “you’ll see a visual impact quickly when work commences.” Phase one will dredge a 250-foot swath upstream and downstream from the Mirror Lake bridge.
MLIA representative Pat Gleeson says that the association is continuing to raise funds to build carefully planned areas for public enjoyment which will be entirely funded by MLIA.
These areas will include 40-45 canoe racks at the Mirror Lake bridge, affectionately referred to as the Mirror Lake Yacht Club. Spaces will be available for annual rent for those wishing to store canoes and kayaks onsite, and there will be a fire pit and a picnic table.
An area at the corner of Netsi Place and Hickory Hill will have walkable paths, a gazebo, a small dock, a picnic table, and will be navigable from the bridge. MLIA envisions this family-friendly space as one that will often host canoeing and kayaking rallies.
An area along Cullasaja Drive will have benches for those wishing to sit and enjoy the quietude.
To support these efforts, call MLIA Treasurer Tom Roberson at (770) 329-9919.
