NOTICE TO NAVIGATION INTERESTS
                                                                            

OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY
LOCK OPERATIONS DURING
TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES

REFERENCE:
a.     33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters
1. Notice to Navigation

Notice is given that 72 hours prior to a Tropical Storm or Hurricane making local landfall, locks will be open 7 AM to 10 PM supporting vessel safe harbor passage.
Lock operations will stop 8 hours prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm force winds, as railroad and drawbridges will be lowered or rotated and locked into a secure position. It's important that all vessels are at their intended destination before bridges are secured and passage across the waterway suspended.
For Lock Operator safety, the locks will:
1. Stop locking vessels or working outdoors if lightning is observed within five miles of the lock, and operations will not resume until lightning has not been seen in the area for 30 minutes.
2. Stop locking vessels when winds exceed 35 MPH. After a storm, it could be days or weeks before the waterway is reopened, depending on damage to structures and how quickly debris creating navigation hazards can be removed.

2.  Contact Information

For up to date Lock information, contact the shift operator 7 AM to 5 PM at:

                St Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148

                Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858 or 863-662-9424

                Moore Haven Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533

                Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846

                WP Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908

                Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421 or 863-662-0298 (6 AM to 9:30 PM)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Point of Contact is Mr. Gary Hipkins at Gary.L.Hipkins@usace.army.mil or 863-983-8101.

//signed//
Gary L.Hipkins
Chief Navigation & Flood Risk Management
South Florida Operations