Lake Waterway Lock Hours Changing

Hours to change on Okeechobee Waterway locks

LABELLE, FL. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has announced it will change the operating hours at locks on the Okeechobee Waterway in accordance with a national strategy to standardize lock operations.

The change is scheduled to take effect November 13, and will impact the following locks:
Moore Haven Lock on the west side of Lake Okeechobee
Ortona Lock near LaBelle
Port Mayaca Lock on the east side of Lake Okeechobee
St. Lucie Lock near Stuart
W.P. Franklin Lock near Fort Myers

The new operating hours at each of the five locks will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. The changes are part of a Corps plan to provide consistent levels of operating service for all locks across the nation. The operating hours are based on the number of lockages performed at each facility.

"These changes are part of a civil works transformation process that will allow the Corps to deliver the best possible products and services to the nation," said Lt. Col. Tom Greco, Jacksonville District Deputy Commander for South Florida. "The objective of Civil Works transformation is to shape a sustainable portfolio of water resources infrastructure for the nation’s future."

Canaveral Lock near Port Canaveral is not impacted by these changes. It will continue to operate from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.

A Notice to Navigation has been issued on this subject. For more information on navigation notices concerning Canaveral Lock or the Okeechobee Waterway, please visit the following website: