GFC said it right! Last June after we put the boat back in the water after doing the bottom, etc, at Indiantown....we experienced delays at the locks on the Caloosahatchie side of the big lake....we missed on opening by just a few minutes....ended up waiting two hours tied to a piling and having a leisurely lunch waiting for the next opening....
When dealing with locks...now a days it seems that "planning" your day has more meaning than before...even with a slow boat...
Your experience on the Okeechobee waterway really has nothing to do with cutting back on lock schedules at the time you crossed, but the Lake levels, which always determine how often the locks open. But the schedule has changed for "normal operating hours"...
NEW LOCK SCHEDULE, ALL LOCKS ON OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY, FLORIDA
1. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has announced it will change the operating hours at locks on the Okeechobee Waterway in accordance with a national strategy to standardize lock operations. The change is scheduled to take effect November 13, and will impact the following locks:
• Moore Haven Lock on the west side of Lake Okeechobee
• Ortona Lock near LaBelle
• Port Mayaca Lock on the east side of Lake Okeechobee
• St. Lucie Lock near Stuart
• W.P. Franklin Lock near Fort Myers
The new operating hours at each of the five locks will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
The changes are part of a Corps plan to provide consistent levels of operating service for all locks across the nation. The operating hours are based on the number of lockages performed at each facility. These changes are part of a civil works transformation process that will allow the Corps to deliver the best possible products and services to the nation. Information will also be updated on the link provided as soon as known.
2. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Point of Contact is Mr. Aaron Kelly at (904) 232-2103 or email
aaron.c.kelly@usace.army.mil
3. Additional information navigation bulletins on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District’s website at:
Jacksonville District Notices to Navigation