Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs is accepting contracting bids for minor modifications to the Bear Creek Dam until Friday.

The bid for the half-acre dam is what Mike Neumann the city parks, recreation and open space director called routine maintenance procedures. Estimated to be less than $20,000, the repairs will reinforce the earthen-filled dam with rock.

The armor dam would be a hard surface that would have rock on the upstream side of the dam.

“There is no safety hazard,” Neumann said.

Located along Hunters Drive near the Whistler Meadows subdivision, the dam is fed by snowmelt coming off the southern flanks of the Steamboat Ski Area in the spring. A soft surface public trail runs along the reservoir.

The need for the repairs comes after an inspection by a state engineer, which must be done annually for the dam to retain its permit.

The state inspection recommended that something could be done to absorb wave action in the dam.

Though Neumann said wave action is minimal, the city decided to put a blend of durable rock, a minimum of 12 inches in depth, that would absorb the waves.

In the next few weeks, the city will drain the dam so repairs can begin by late September or early October. Construction should take no longer than a week or two.

Contracting bids will be opened on Monday.