On October 6, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it will replace the gates at Bear Creek Dam, the structure that holds back the reservoir at Bear Creek Lake Park just south of Green Mountain. In its announcement, the Omaha District said "substantial corrosion has caused improper sealing of the gates" and that the work will run from November 2026 to February 2028.

For the coming season, the project changes little at the park, because the drought has already lowered the reservoir. The water is lower than the project's first construction window needs. The Corps lists the park as open to the public through this winter and all of next year. The one stretch it lists as closed falls in January and February 2028.

The drawdown the drought already did

To give the contractor a dry, safe place to work, the Corps plans two 10-foot drawdowns of the reservoir, with a possible third. The same release says the water level is "currently about 14 feet below normal due to the ongoing drought," and that if the reservoir stays at least 10 feet below normal, "the first drawdown will not be needed."

That first window, November through December 2026, covers gate measurements and tunnel repairs. It's set at 21 days of construction. After that, releases resume while the new gates are built, from December 2026 to November 2027. The design was finished in April 2026, and the contract to build and install the gates was awarded in August.

Here's the schedule from the Corps' project page, including the recreation status it lists for each phase:

The 2028 drawdown is conditional. The Corps says it would happen only "if inflow rates are high and the remaining construction activities cannot be completed safely during the second construction window." The Corps still lists that January and February 2028 window as closed to the public, so the one closure on the calendar is two winters away.

Low water had already changed the boating season

For anyone who launches a boat, the effects started before the gate news. The City of Lakewood's 2026 drought FAQ said that "due to low-water levels in Bear Creek Reservoir, the boat ramp is closed, and boats are allowed to be hand launched only." The same page said the reservoir remained open to fishing. It also said Big Soda Lake would be lowered by 200 acre-feet and that kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing there were allowed "water levels permitting." Those answers were written for the 2026 drought season and the page isn't dated, so they describe this year's conditions without confirming today's status.

The regular calendar takes over now anyway. The city's park activities page lists boat ramps as closed November 15 through March 15 every year. Launch hours from November 1 to 15 are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The same page says paddlecraft can use Big Soda Lake year-round. It also says the Big Soda lap lane is closed because of low water.

Put together, the reservoir ramp was already limited by drought and closes for the season in mid-November, which is about when the Corps' first window opens. Boaters lose very little to the dam project this winter that the season wasn't already taking.

Ice is where the project could matter

The winter use most tied to water level is ice fishing. Lakewood allows it on Bear Creek Reservoir at your own risk. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks the reservoir, and anglers 16 and older need a valid Colorado fishing license. CPW's stocking report lists Bear Creek Reservoir with a report date of October 2, 2026. CPW notes that the date is when the water was added to the report, and the stocking itself may have happened earlier that week.

The Corps' schedule includes one caution about ice: "If ice over the reservoir becomes unstable, the reservoir may be closed due to safety concerns." Water moving under ice is what makes a drawdown a winter concern. If the reservoir stays at least 10 feet below normal, the November and December work goes ahead without one, which keeps this season's ice in its usual position.

CPW's general ice fishing guidance applies no matter what the dam crew is doing. Thickness can vary across the same lake, ice near submerged objects or structures deserves extra caution, and ice two inches thick or less should be avoided. That guidance isn't specific to Bear Creek, so check conditions on the day.

The rest of the park runs on the usual winter calendar

Away from the water, the park's winter schedule comes from the seasons. Here's what the city posts for November through February:

• Hours: The park is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday.
• Trails: There are nearly 15 miles of soft-surface trail, including the 6.9-mile Mount Carbon Loop. The paved Bear Creek and C-470 regional trails are plowed in winter.
• Archery range: The range has 12 targets from 10 to 80 yards, and use is included in park admission. The page lists no winter closure.
• Stables: Guided rides at Bear Creek Lake Stables run Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Camping: The regular season ran April 1 through October 31. Winter group camping is limited to scout and official youth groups, with no water and with showers and flush toilets closed.

None of these depend on the reservoir level, and the Corps' project information lists no trail restrictions tied to the gate work. The city keeps a live trail-conditions dashboard, and it's the better source for a snowy morning than any fixed schedule.

Dates to keep from now through February

The park's biggest event this winter is the Winter Solstice Celebration on Monday, December 21, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. The $5 program includes a guided night hike, a campfire, a marshmallow roast and a yule-log tradition. Registration is required.

Annual passes go on sale in December and expire December 31 of the calendar year on the pass. The city lists them at $80 general, $50 for seniors 62 and older and people with disabilities, and $30 for each additional vehicle. Day fees are $10 per vehicle, $5 for seniors and people with disabilities, and $15 on weekends and national holidays between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. The fee page shows posted rates without a date, so confirm the price when passes go on sale.

On Wednesday, February 10, 2027, the Parks Jobs Open House runs 4 to 7 p.m. at the Visitor Center. Admission to the park is waived that day.

The park also has a longer-range plan alongside the dam work. Lakewood City Council adopted a new Bear Creek Lake Park master plan on January 27, 2025. Its top three priorities are the Morrison Road entrance, trails throughout the park, and upgrades to the Big Soda Lake swim beach and marina. Proposals include an automatic annual-pass gate and replacement marina slips and launch facilities. These are planned items, not finished projects, and none of them change the entrance you'll drive through this winter.

For the Corps' part, the gate replacement page is where updates will appear. The next two numbers to watch are the reservoir level in November and the recreation status for January 2028.

If you have questions about the Bear Creek project or anything else changing around Green Mountain and what it could mean for your plans, Brian Harvey is glad to give you a straight answer. Let's Connect.