NOTICE TO NAVIGATION INTERESTS
                                                                            

ST. LUCIE LOCK & DAM
SCHEDULED CLOSURE FOR MAINTENANCE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
12 April 2021 to 15 June 21

REFERENCE:
a.     33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters

1. Notice to Navigation

Notice is given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comments until June 15, 2021, and notifying the public, boaters, marinas, and commercial and recreational vessels which travel through the St. Lucie Lock on the Okeechobee Waterway, in Stuart, Florida, that the St. Lucie Lock will be closed for maintenance between January 2, 2022 and March 31, 2022.

This will be the first dewatering and total closure of the St. Lucie Lock in 10 years. Maintenance is necessary to repair aging and damaged infrastructure, in addition to improving public and vessel safety. Repairs will require the lock chamber to be dewatered and for crews to perform inspections, replace corroded steel structures, paint, install new gate seals, and repair Manatee Protection System components. During the closure, barges, barge-mounted cranes, and divers will be working in the lock entrance, requiring vessel operators in the area to use minimal speed and caution for safety.

Please email public comments and concerns related to this three-month closure for maintenance to Steven.G.Reinert@usace.army.mil (recommended subject: "Public Comment on St. Lucie Lock Closure for Maintenance"). Public comments will be accepted until June 15, 2021.

2.  Contact Information

For up-to-date Lock information contact the shift operator 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.)

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