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  • December

    District commander

    Jacksonville Commander announces Lake Okeechobee Dry Season Strategy

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Dec. 28, 2022) During the height of hurricane emergency response efforts from Ian and Nicole, our decisions were easy to reduce immediate impacts. Now, the question of how to manage all the water in Lake Okeechobee is upon us, and the solution is not an easy one.
  • Before major lock maintenance and repairs can take place, the lock must be dewatered so that inspections and repair work can be done in relatively dry conditions. Using a barge-mounted crane, the crane operator and rigging crew set a needle dam girder (I-beam) in place in notches built into the lock chamber wall. Then, they place large metal panels known as “needles” against the I-Beam to form a wall called a “needle dam.” (USACE Jacksonville District photo from a 2012 maintenance repair project at the St. Lucie Lock in 2012)

    Army Corps of Engineers temporarily closes St. Lucie Lock for major maintenance and repairs

    STUART, Fla. (Dec. 28, 2020) – After a year of planning, coordination and notification, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a planned temporary closure of the St. Lucie Lock for major maintenance and repairs starting Jan. 4, 2022, with completion expected no later than March 31.

  • August

    The Corps team arrives on site before sunrise to begin dewatering the Ortona Lock.

    Lock steps: Dewatering is the first step before lock repairs can begin

    Did you ever wonder why it takes so long to repair a lock? Check out the dewatering process for the Ortona Lock and Dam maintenance repairs through a series of photos of the event in 2018. It's a LOT more involved than just closing the lock and doing repairs!

  • December

    The tug boat Leitner pushed a barge mounted crane into position so a crew could break up and remove a half-acre tussock or floating island, restoring navigation along the Rim Canal Route 2 of the Okeechobee Waterway and the south side of Lake Okeechobee.

    Tussock removal

    A half-acre tussock was blown by the wind, and completely blocked the navigation channel of Rim Canal Route 2 of the Okeechobee Waterway, on the south side of Lake Okeechobee. The Okeechobee Waterway is a navigable waterway that cuts across the state, from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The tug boat Leitner, with Capt. Graham Thompson at the helm, pushed a barge-mounted crane with a crew of three into position. The team successfully broke up and removed the tussock, restoring navigation on the Okeechobee Waterway.

  • January

    An estimated 5,000 protesters march near the St. Lucie Lock August 3 to demonstrate opposition to water releases from Lake Okeechobee. Jacksonville District’s Operations Division released water from the lake throughout the summer in response to heavy precipitation that fell from April to July in the Lake Okeechobee watershed.

    Operations Division overcomes challenges

    “2013 was a year full of challenges,” said Jim Jeffords, Operations Division chief. “Our biggest challenge was the historical rain event that occurred from April to July. The event tested all aspects of the district – our water managers, inspections of the dike, emergency operations, dam safety and corporate communications.”

  • December

    A boater approaches LaBelle on the Caloosahatchee River, part of the Okeechobee Waterway in south Florida. Jacksonville District is educating boaters on its anchoring policy to improve safety and reduce the risk of an accident on the 152-mile long waterway connecting Stuart and Fort Myers.

    Rangers educate boaters on Okeechobee Waterway anchoring policy

    Jacksonville District park rangers along the Okeechobee Waterway are educating boaters on navigation and anchoring policies adopted to promote safety.

  • November

    W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam Recreation Area volunteers Don Chapman (left) and George Schisler clean and repair one of the many Purple Martin “palaces” that they have built over the years, in preparation for the return of Purple Martin colonies in January.

    Corps volunteers prepare for annual return of Purple Martins

    Along the Okeechobee Waterway, the return of the Purple Martins is one of the much-anticipated annual rites of spring. Corps volunteers have worked hard over the years to attract these delightful birds to Corps recreation areas for the enjoyment of all.

  • October

    Crowds line the fence during a demonstration held at the St. Lucie Lock & Dam August 3 to protest the discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River Estuaries. An estimated 5,000 people attended the event.

    All in a day’s work: South Florida Operations Office multi-tasks all summer

    During normal operations, the staff is responsible for the Okeechobee Waterway, the recreation areas around the locks, maintenance on Herbert Hoover Dike, and numerous other tasks. However, as the water rose on Lake Okeechobee this summer, SFOO staff had to adjust duties to accommodate other priorities, such as weekly inspections of the 80-year-old dike.

  • September

    The Palm Valley Reach of the Intracoastal Waterway, where structures along the federal channel are plentiful.

    Regulatory rolls out revised setback guidance

    In the interest of navigation safety and waterway accessibility, Regulatory Division rolled out its revised setback guidance for structures placed along certain federal channels at a series of public meetings, held in Deerfield Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Valley, Fla. in August.

  • August

    Swimmers cooled down at the W.P. Franklin swim beach while enjoying a sunny July 4th weekend.

    Independence Day on the Okeechobee Waterway

    The W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area in Alva was a popular destination on the July 4th weekend, receiving more than 2,000 visitors. The swim beach provided a welcome place for families to splash, play and stay cool.
  • Course participants learned the proper procedures for launching and retrieving a boat.

    Motorboat Operator training provides certification and skills needed to perform a wide range of duties

    In May and June, the South Florida Operations Office hosted a 32-hour motorboat licensing course and two 8-hour refresher courses at the W.P. Franklin Lock Recreation Area on the Okeechobee Waterway. Thirteen Jacksonville District employees participated in the program, designed to ensure that operators are adequately trained, properly tested and licensed prior to the official operation of any Corps boat or vessel less than 26 feet in length.