Notice to navigation in Okeechobee Waterway

News from USACE

Posted 9/17/25

Floating tussocks have formed in Lake Okeechobee near Route 2 and could pose a hazard to navigation.

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Notice to navigation in Okeechobee Waterway

Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2025 2:02 pm

News from USACE

REFERENCE:
a. 33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters

1. Notice to Navigation
Attention all concerned boaters! Floating tussocks have formed in Lake Okeechobee near Route 2 and could pose a hazard to navigation.

What are floating tussocks?

A floating tussock is a natural phenomenon in wetlands characterized by a floating mat of decomposing organic and mineral sediment, supported by the roots of emergent macrophytes. These mats can vary in size and composition, often forming in areas where water levels fluctuate, allowing plant roots to float due to oxygen availability.

While floating tussocks provide essential habitat for various aquatic life and can be influenced by factors such as water depth and soil characteristics, they can be a hazard to navigation if the wind direction and velocity blow them into the channel.

For the current Lake Okeechobee water levels, please see: https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml

2. For up-to-date Lock information, contact the shift operator 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:

• St Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148

• Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858 or 863-662-9424
• Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533
• Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846
• W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908
• Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421 or 863-662-0298 (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

Keywords

navigation, notice, Okeechobee Waterway, tussocks

Current Conditions

Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport

Fair, 75 °F

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 82. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with … Get the full forecast

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