Navigation
Navigation Notices
Notice #1
Boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee should be advised that if current dry conditions persist and the levels of Lake Okeechobee continue to recede, the South Florida Water Management District will close or alter the operations of multiple navigational locks on Lake Okeechobee's north shore.
As of Friday, February 27, 2026, the water level in Lake Okeechobee is 12.26 feet NGVD or 10.97 feet NAVD.
Once the water level in Lake Okeechobee drops below 12 feet NGVD or 10.70 feet NAVD, the following locks will be completely closed to navigation 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
- S-135 Boat Lock at the J&S Fish Camp in Martin County.
- G-36 Boat Lock on Henry Creek in Okeechobee County.
- S-127 Boat Lock at Buckhead Ridge in Glades County.
- S-131 Boat Lock in Lakeport in Glades County.
The S-193 Boat Lock at Taylor Creek in Okeechobee County will remain open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. If the lake level reaches 11 feet NGVD or 9.70 feet NAVD, the S-193 Boat Lock will also be completely closed until specific water levels are met.
Notice #2
Public access along the L-29, L-67A and L-67C Canals near Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County is closed for maintenance activities. The canals and canal banks will be closed to all public access including to boating and fishing. They are expected to reopen in August 2026. To view a map of the area, click here. For more information, please contact Miami Field Station Superintendent Yordanka Perez at 305-513-3420 ext. 7102 or Assistant Superintendent Juan Hidalgo Gato at 954-249-6212.
El acceso público a lo largo de los canales L-29, L-67A y L-67C cerca de Tamiami Trail en el condado de Miami- Dade está cerrado, debido a actividades de mantenimiento. Los canales y las orillas estarán cerrados a todo acceso público, incluyendo la navegación y la pesca. Se espera que reabran en agosto de 2026. Para ver un mapa del área, haga clic aquí. Para más información, por favor contacte al Superintendente de la Estación de Miami, Yordanka Perez, al 305-513-3420 ext. 7102 o al Subsuperintendente Juan Hidalgo Gato al 954-249-6212.
The SFWMD’s Water Management Infrastructure Brochure features a detailed map of the regional water management system in Central and Southern Florida, along with key information about navigational locks, including hours of operation. The brochure also provides step-by-step instructions on how to navigate a lock.
The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee offer some of the best boating and fishing opportunities in Central and South Florida. Navigation locks throughout this interconnected system ensure that it is accessible by the public for recreation.
Along the route, there are 11 locks maintained by the South Florida Water Management District and five maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
It takes about 15 minutes to lock through most structures. This service is free to boaters locking through during normal operating hours.
Navigation Lock Types
SFWMD Navigation Locks on Lake Okeechobee
The District operates five locks on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee and one (S-310) on the south shore near Clewiston. Below are normal operating hours for each lock.
| Lock Number | Location | County | Hours |
| S-135 | J&S Fish Camp | Martin | Oct. 1 - April 30: 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 1 - Sept. 30: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| G-36 | Henry Creek | Okeechobee | Oct. 1 - April 30: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 1 - Sept. 30: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| S-193 | Taylor Creek | Okeechobee | Dec. 1 - April 30: 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. May 1 - Nov. 30: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 4: 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| S-127 | Buckhead Ridge | Glades | Oct. 1 - April 30: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 1 - Sept. 30: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| S-131 | Lakeport | Glades | Oct. 1 - April 30: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 1 - Sept. 30: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| S-310 | Clewiston | Hendry | Oct. 1 - April 30: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 1 - Sept. 30: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
A map with lock locations on Lake Okeechobee and instructions on how to move through the locks are in the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail & Okeechobee Waterway brochure. Use Frequency 16 on Lake Okeechobee for boating emergencies only.
Contacts:
- For SFWMD lock operations, contact Advanced Lock Tender Division, LLC at 863-532-8042.
For more information:
SFWMD Navigation Locks on the Kissimmee Waterway
All SFWMD locks on the Kissimmee River and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are operated from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays year-round. Hours of operation on weekends are from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from March 1 through Oct. 31 and 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28.
- S-65E at Kissimmee River, Okeechobee/Glades County
- S-65D in Okeechobee/Highlands County
- S-65A in Osceola/Polk County
- S-65 on Lake Kissimmee in Osceola/Polk County
- S-61 on Cypress Lake and Lake Tohopekaliga in Osceola County
A map with lock locations is in the Guide to the Kissimmee Waterway brochure.
Contacts:
- For SFWMD lock operations, contact Advanced Lock Tender Division, LLC at 863-532-8042.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Locks on the Okeechobee Waterway
The Okeechobee Waterway stretches 154 miles from the Atlantic Ocean at Stuart to the Gulf of America at Fort Myers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates these five navigation locks on the waterway:
- S-77, S-78 and S-79, Fort Myers to Moore Haven, Caloosahatchee River
- S-80 and S-308, Port Mayaca to Stuart, St. Lucie River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers posts information about Okeechobee Waterway navigation locks on its website.
For more information contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Operations Office at 863-983-8101.
SFWMD Water Management Infrastructure Brochure Map
The SFWMD’s Water Management Infrastructure Brochure features a detailed map of the regional water management system in Central and Southern Florida, along with key information about navigational locks. To request a printed copy, visit us at our Headquarters Complex in West Palm Beach at 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 or at one of our field locations.