SFWMD to Close North Shore Navigation Locks as Lake Okeechobee Levels Continue to Drop

Jan. 11, 2019

West Palm Beach, FL – For boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will soon close several navigation locks on the north shore for safety reasons. The closures are a result of persistent drier-than-average conditions that have reduced water levels in Lake Okeechobee. Injury and lock damage could occur when boats pass through these structures at water levels below any of the designated safety limits.

Navigation Notice: Four SFWMD Navigation Locks to Temporarily Close for Inspections

Nov. 7, 2018

Okeechobee, FL - A dive team from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will conduct a series of underwater inspections on District navigation locks to help ensure continued operation of these structures for boaters. To facilitate the inspections, four locks on the Kissimmee River and the north shore of Lake Okeechobee will be temporarily closed on the following dates:

S-127 Lock on Lake Okeechobee Reopens for Navigation

Aug. 17, 2018

Okeechobee, FL – For boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee, the S-127 navigation lock at Buckhead Ridge in Glades County has reopened to navigation. The lock was closed on Aug. 13 to allow staff from the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) Okeechobee Field Station to conduct repairs to the lock. The work was completed several days ahead of schedule.

S-127 Lock on Lake Okeechobee to Temporarily Close Starting Aug. 13

Aug. 3, 2018

Okeechobee, FL – For boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee, the S-127 navigation lock at Buckhead Ridge in Glades County is scheduled to be closed from Monday, Aug. 13, through Wednesday, Aug. 22. During that time, staff from the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) Okeechobee Field Station will be conducting repairs to the lock.

S-193 Lock Scheduled to Close to Boat Traffic on June 25-26

June 18, 2018

West Palm Beach, FL &ndsah; The S-193 navigation lock at Taylor Creek is scheduled to be closed to boat traffic entering and leaving Lake Okeechobee on June 25 and 26.

Staff from the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) Okeechobee Field Station will be making upgrades to the lock's manatee protection system. Manatee protection devices installed at District locks use sensors to detect when a manatee is present in the lock chamber and prevent the gates from closing.

L-67A Levee Public Access Temporarily Closed Due to S-151 Structure Replacement and Automation Work

June 14, 2018

West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) on June 25 will temporarily close public access to the L-67A Levee over the S-151 Structure in western Broward County.

SFWMD will be replacing and automating the S-151 Structure. During this construction, access to the L-67A Levee and access to the northeast and southeast banks of the C-304 Canal at the S-151 Structure will remain closed. The construction work is expected to be completed by May 30, 2019.

SFWMD to Broadcast Weigh-in of 1,000th Eliminated Python

May 21, 2018 

West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board's Python Elimination Program has eliminated 1,000 Burmese pythons, protecting countless native species from being ravaged by the invasive, apex predator.

The milestone snake was eliminated this past weekend by python hunter Brian Hargrove. The weigh-in of the milestone 1000th snake will be broadcast by SFWMD live on its Facebook page on Tuesday, May 22, starting at 11 a.m.