Navigation
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 Notices
Please regularly check this space for navigation notices for the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee.
- UPDATE: Four Locks to Temporarily Close for Safety Reasons - Notice issued March 19, 2020
- UPDATE: Three Locks to Temporarily Close for Underwater Safety Inspections - Notice issued Dec. 16, 2019
- UPDATED: All SFWMD-Managed Navigation Locks Temporarily Closing Saturday - Notice issued Aug. 29, 2019
- UPDATED: S-193 NOW OPEN SFWMD Reopening Navigation Locks on Lake Okeechobee's North Shore - Notice issued Aug. 16, 2019
- With Kissimmee River Water Level Set to Increase Boat Owners Encouraged to Secure Boats - Notice issued Aug. 15, 2019
- SFWMD Reopening S-193 Navigation Lock on Lake Okeechobee - Notice issued Aug. 9, 2019
- St. Lucie Lock and Dam 22 foot width restriction due to equipment failure. – Notice issued Feb. 8, 2019
- Four navigation locks will close on Lake Okeechobee if lake drops below 12 feet; fifth lock will close if lake drops below 11 feet – Notice issued Jan. 25, 2019
- USACE: Low lake levels creating hazardous navigation on Okeechobee Waterway – Effective Jan. 14, 2019
- USACE: Navigation closures remain in effect for Kissimmee River as restoration project construction continues
- S-65C Boat Ramp and Camping Area Closed – Effective September 2016
- USACE: Lock Operations During Tropical Storms and Hurricanes
- USACE: Notices to Navigation
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 Design & Construction Corp., Lock Tender Division, 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 Design & Construction Corp., Lock Tender Division, 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 Mexico 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 Corps posts information about Okeechobee Waterway navigation locks on its website. Navigation notices from the Corps are also available online.
Contacts:
- For information about the Okeechobee Waterway, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Operations Office, at (863) 983-8101.