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Navigation

Navigation Notices

Notice #1 
Boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee should be advised that starting on Saturday, May 31, 2025, the S-193 Boat Lock at Taylor Creek in Okeechobee County will be closed on weekends. The boat lock was already closed to navigation during the week. The boat lock is closed because Lake Okeechobee water levels dropped below 11 feet NGVD or 9.70 feet NAVD. The boat lock will re-open to navigation as soon as specific water levels are met. Anglers and boaters may access local waterways through other public boat ramps. Visit FWC Boat Ramp Finder to find one near you.

Notice #2
Boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee should be advised that the South Florida Water Management District closed certain boat locks on April 15, 2025 because water levels dropped to 12 feet NGVD or 10.70 feet NAVD. The following boat locks temporarily ceased operations and they will be closed to navigation until specific water levels are met. 

  • The S-135 Boat Lock at the J&S Fish Camp in Martin County.
  • The G-36 Boat Lock on Henry Creek in Okeechobee County.
  • The S-127 Boat Lock at Buckhead Ridge in Glades County.
  • The S-131 Boat Lock at Lakeport in Glades County.

Anglers and boaters may access local waterways through other public boat ramps. Visit FWC Boat Ramp Finder to find one near you.

Notice #3
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) changed the operating schedule of the S-310 Boat Lock in Clewiston in December 2024. The boat lock is now open to navigation from both the landside and the lakeside 24 hours a day until further notice. This means that boaters will not need to use the lock to pass through the structure. The public can get the latest navigation updates from the SFWMD by signing up for text messages and emails here. Anglers and boaters may access local waterways from several access points through public boat ramps. Visit FWC’s Boat Ramp Finder to find one near you.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.