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July 7, 2017
North Shore Navigation Locks to Return to Normal Operations When Lake Okeechobee Rises to 12.5 Feet
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Okeechobee, FL - With Lake Okeechobee levels rising, five navigation locks on the north shore will soon return to normal operations. When the lake reaches 12.5 feet, these locks will be open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.:
- Okeechobee County: S-193 structure, Taylor Creek.
- Okeechobee County: G-36 structure, Henry Creek.
- Martin County: S-135 structure, J&S Fish Camp.
- Glades County: S-127 structure, Buckhead Ridge.
- Glades County: S-131 structure, Lakeport.
The S-193 lock at Taylor Creek is currently operating on Saturdays and Sundays only between 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. The four other north shore locks have been closed since the lake fell below 12 feet in April.
The closures were a result of drought conditions that reduced water levels in Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee Basin. Injury and lock damage could occur when boats pass through these structures at water levels below any of the designated safety limits.
On the south shore, the S-310 lock at Clewiston in Hendry County has remained open even when lake levels were lower. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the locks leading from the lake to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.
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The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida's water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.
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