Boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee should be advised that the South Florida Water Management District (District) will close certain boat locks at the end of their normal operating hours tonight, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Water levels in Lake Okeechobee are expected to fall below 12 feet NGVD or 10.70 feet NAVD. The following boat locks will temporarily cease operations and they will be closed to navigation until specific water levels are met.
The South Florida Water Management District (District) operates and maintains 11 navigational locks throughout Central and Southern Florida.
DID YOU KNOW: These navigational locks provide access to an interconnected system of waterways, including the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee.
Boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee should be advised that if current weather conditions persist and the levels of Lake Okeechobee continue to recede, the South Florida Water Management District (District) will close four navigation locks on the north shore for safety reasons.
If 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.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. - In order to continue to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board authorized the District's Executive Director to issue a Water Shortage Order imposing Modified Phase IV Water Shortage restrictions if/when the water levels in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer decline below the "future action level" of -93.01 feet for two consecutive weeks.
