Okeechobee Waterway

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~ Notices ~

Low Water Restrictions

The USACE has announced lock operating restrictions for the WP Franklin and St. Lucie Locks. These lock restrictions will vary according to the lake water level. Latest warning effective 23 May 2011. USACE Official Notice

Route #2 (Rim Canal) Update

As of July 2010, mariners are advised to continue to use caution when transiting Route #2 due to shoaling. (USACE Official Notice)

OWW Bridge & Lock Schedule

The Okeechobee is a 134 nautical mile long waterway providing an inside protected passage across Florida. From its junction with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in St. Lucie Inlet, the Okeechobee Waterway follows the St. Lucie River westward to South Fork, through South Fork and the St. Lucie Canal. It enters Lake Okeechobee at Port Mayaca. After crossing the southern portion of the lake, it exits the lake at Clewiston then through Moore Haven into the Caloosahatchee Canal and from there into the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Okeechobee Waterway can save 165 NM or more versus going outside and around the southern tip of Florida.

Map of the Okeechobee Waterway

Caution: The limiting vertical clearance of the waterway is 49’± at the Port Mayaca RR Lift Bridge.

It should be noted that the Okeechobee water levels vary dramatically from year to year depending on the amount of rainfall received. When water levels drop below a certain point restrictions are placed on the locks resulting in limited operating schedules to the worst case scenario when they close the waterway completely.

If your plans are to use the Okeechobee waterway you can visit the Army Corp of Engineers, Jacksonville, FL offices' web site at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil. Once there you can check out the latest navigational bulletins.

The tables below list the Army Corp of Engineers maximum draft recommendations for Lake Okeechobee as well as the bridges and locks, their schedules and restrictions, along the Okeechobee Waterway from its intersection with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Stuart on the Atlantic side to the Florida Gulf Intracoastal Waterway just West of Fort Meyers on the Gulf of Mexico.

This list is believed to be accurate as of January 2012. If any errors or omissions are noted, please e-mail us with any corrections or recommendations.

Other publications that may be of interest to those transiting the Okeechobee Waterway:
Okeechobee Transit Brochure
Locking Through with Manatees

The following tables may be downloaded for your personal and private use as a ZIP file. The file contains the tables in Adobe (.pdf) file format.

Okeechobee Waterway
* Please Note: Low water levels in Lake Okeechobee may result in lock schedule changes at the W.P. Franklin and St. Lucie Locks.
Mile Marker Bridge Charted Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF
Florida
3.4 Evans Crary 65’ Fixed Bridge   --
7.0 New Roosevelt Bridge 65’ Fixed Bridge   --
7.4 Brit Point RR Bascule Bridge 7’ Normally Open Closed for RR Traffic 09
7.4 Old Roosevelt Bascule Bridge 14’ The draw shall open between 0700 - 1800 M-F on the hour and ½ hour except Federal holidays. On weekends and Federal holidays the draw shall open between 0800 - 1800 on the hour and every 20 minutes thereafter. Other times on demand. Closed M-F 0730 - 0900 & 1600 - 1730 except openings at 0815 and 1645. Only opens if Brit Point RR bridge is open. 09
9.0 Palm City Bridge 54’ Fixed Bridge   --
14.0 I-95 Twin Bridges 56’ Fixed Bridge   --
14.5 Thomas B. Manual Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
15.0 St. Lucie Lock   On Demand Closed from 2130 - 0600. 13
16.0 County Road-76A Bridge 56’ Fixed Bridge   --
28.1 Indiantown Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
28.2 Indiantown RR Bridge 7’ On Demand Closed from 2200 - 0600 except with 3 hours notice. 09
38.0 Port Mayaca RR Lift Bridge 7’ Normally Open 49’± Open (Limiting Vertical Clearance for the Waterway) 09
39.0 Port Mayaca Highway Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
39.2 Port Mayaca Lock   On demand Closed from 2130 - 0600. 13
60.7 Torry Island Swing Bridge 11’ The draw shall open on demand between 0700 - 1800 M-Thu. and 0700 to 1900 Fri, Sat, and Sun. Closed at all other times. (Rim Route) 09
78.0 Moore Haven Lock   On Demand Closed from 2130 - 0600 13
78.3 Moore Haven RR Swing Bridge 5’ Normally Open Closes for RR Traffic and need not be opened from 2200 – 0600. 09
78.4 Moore Haven Highway Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
94.0 Ortona Lock   On demand Closed from 2130 - 0600. 13
103.0 La Belle Bascule Bridge 28’ Opens on Demand Closed M-F 0700 - 0900 & 1600 - 1800. 09
108.2 Fort Denaud Swing Bridge 9’ Opens on Demand Closed 2200 - 0600 except with 3 hours notice. 09
116.0 Alva Bascule Bridge 23’ Opens on Demand Closed 2200 - 0600 except with 3 hours notice. 09
121.0 W. P. Franklin Lock   On Demand Closed from 2130 - 0600. 13
126.3 Olga Highway Bascule Bridge 27’ Opens on Demand Closed 2200 - 0600 except with 3 hours notice. 09
129.0 I-75 Twin Bridges 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
130.0 SCL RR Lift Bridge 5’ Normally Open (55’) Closed for RR Traffic 09
134.5 Edison Twin Bridges 56’ Fixed Bridge   --
135.0 Highway 41 Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
138.8 Midpoint Memorial Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
142.1 Cape Coral Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge   --
151.1 Sanibel Causeway Bridge 70’ Fixed Bridge "A" Span   --

Okeechobee Bridge and Lock Schedule - Download


US Army Corp of Engineers Lake Okeechobee Draft Recommendations for Route #1

NOTE: The above chart was created to provide mariners with a guide for navigating Route 1. This chart is based upon bathymetric surveys (2007 Channel Condition Survey) of the Okeechobee Waterway performed by the Corps of Engineers. Conditions are subject to change and mariners should remain alert and aware of the actual on water conditions. Available water depth may be temporarily impacted up to 1.1 feet by strong winds
Lake Level in Feet - NGVD 1929   Max. Recommended Draft in Feet
 
15.06’   9.0’
14.56’   8.5’
14.06’   8.0’
13.56’   7.5’
13.06’   7.0’
12.56’   6.5’
12.06’   6.0’
11.56’   5.5’
11.06’   5.0’
10.56’   4.5’
10.06’   4.0’
9.56’   3.5’
9.06’   3.0’
8.56’   2.5’
8.06’   2.0’
7.56’   1.5’
7.06’   1.0’
6.56’   0.5’

Okeechobee Route #1 Draft Recommendations - Download

US Army Corp of Engineers Lake Okeechobee Draft Recommendations for Route #2

NOTE: NOTE: The above chart was created to provide mariners with a guide for navigating Route 2. This chart is based upon bathymetric surveys (2008 Channel Condition Survey) of the Okeechobee Waterway performed by the Corps of Engineers. Conditions are subject to change and mariners should remain alert and aware of the actual on water conditions.
Lake Level in Feet - NGVD 1929   Max. Recommended Draft in Feet
 
15.06’   7.2’
14.56’   6.7’
14.06’   6.2’
13.56’   5.7’
13.06’   5.2’
12.56’   4.7’
12.06’   4.2’
11.56’   3.7’
11.06’   3.2’
10.56’   2.7’
10.06’   2.2’
9.56’   1.7’
9.06’   1.2’
8.56’   0.7’
8.06’   0.2’

Okeechobee Route #2 Draft Recommendations - Download

 

Okeechobee Waterway Distance Table
All Distances in Nautical Miles
  AICW Stuart St. Lucie Lock Port Mayaca Lock Clewiston Moore Haven Lock Ortona Lock W.P. Franklin Lock Ft. Meyers GICW
AICW 0 6.6 13.1 33.9 56.8 67.8 81.2 105.5 117.3 134.3
Stuart 6.6 0 6.5 27.3 50.2 61.2 74.6 98.9 110.7 127.7
St. Lucie Lock 13.1 6.5 0 20.6 43.5 54.5 68.0 92.2 104.0 121.0
Port Mayaca Lock 33.9 27.3 20.6 0 22.9 33.9 47.4 71.6 83.4 100.7
Clewiston 56.8 50.2 37.1 16.5 0 10.9 24.4 48.7 60.5 77.5
Moore Haven Lock 67.8 61.2 54.5 33.9 10.9 0 13.5 37.7 49.5 66.6
Ortona Lock 81.2 74.5 68.0 47.4 24.4 13.5 0 24.2 36.1 53.1
W.P. Franklin Lock 105.3 98.7 92.2 71.6 48.7 37.7 24.2 0 11.8 28.9
Ft. Meyers 117.1 110.5 104.0 83.4 60.5 49.5 41.5 11.8 0 17.0
GICW 134.3 127.7 121.0 100.7 77.5 66.6 53.1 28.9 17.0 0

Okeechobee Waterway Distance Table - Download

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