Notice to Navigation: 2025-020 – Possible floating tussock hazard to navigation in the Okeechobee Waterway near Route 2

US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT
LOCAL NUMBER: 2025-20
WATERWAY:  Okeechobee Waterway

EFFECTIVE: 15 September 2025

ATTN: CESAJ-OD-SN
PO Box 4970
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32232-0019

POC: Kriss Zeller, Chief of Navigation (772) 380-6928

www.saj.usace.army.mil/NTN

REFERENCE:

a.     33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters

1. Notice to Navigation

Attention all concerned boaters! Floating tussocks have formed in Lake Okeechobee near Route 2 and could pose a hazard to navigation.

What are floating tussocks?

A floating tussock is a natural phenomenon in wetlands characterized by a floating mat of decomposing organic and mineral sediment, supported by the roots of emergent macrophytes. These mats can vary in size and composition, often forming in areas where water levels fluctuate, allowing plant roots to float due to oxygen availability.

While floating tussocks provide essential habitat for various aquatic life and can be influenced by factors such as water depth and soil characteristics, they can be a hazard to navigation if the wind direction and velocity blow them into the channel.

For the current Lake Okeechobee water levels, please see:  https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtmll

2. For up-to-date Lock information, contact the shift operator 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 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
                Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533
                Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846
                W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908
                Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421 or 863-662-0298 (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)