GL: Lake Okeechobee

[Bob Clinkenbeard]

This is what is was like in July......................and yesterday the 
elevation was 10.09 meaning it has risen .99 ft since then.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information about Jacksonville District's activities, visit our 
website at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil

Release No.: 0736 Contact: Barry Vorse, CCO

For Release: 23 July 2007 Phone: 904-232-2236 FAX: 904-232-2237

P.O. Box 4970 Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019 Email: 
barry.d.vorse at saj02.usace.army.mil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAUTIONS

BOATERS, ANGLERS TO BEWARE

OF EXTREMELY LOW CONDITIONS ON OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville 
District, is strongly

advising mariners to take several factors into serious consideration whether 
crossing Lake Okeechobee

or stopping for recreational activities such as fishing. The lake has been 
averaging 9.1 feet or below for

about 60 days.

A lake elevation of 9.1 feet translates to a channel depth of 3.04 feet on 
Route 1 of the Lake

Okeechobee Waterway, which crosses the lake. At this level, based on the 
2001 Channel Condition

Survey, the maximum recommended draft of vessels is only 1.44 feet.

Mariners are advised that if they decide to cross Lake Okeechobee they are 
doing so at their own

risk. During such conditions bad weather can have an immediate impact on 
vessels. Mariners are

warned not to leave the Route 1 channel, to absolutely avoid uncharted 
waters and be aware that

depths could change without notice. Route 2, known as the Rim Canal, is 
closed to navigation.

The Corps has also announced that Ortona Lock, which is located 14 miles 
west of Lake

Okeechobee and which had been closed for regular maintenance, was reopened 
last week, three days

ahead of schedule. It is now open for lockages upon demand and is not on a 
restricted time schedule

as are other locks on the waterway.

NEWS RELEASE

For more information about Jacksonville District's activities, visit our 
website at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil

Additional information concerning Lake Okeechobee, the Waterway and related 
Navigation

Bulletins can be viewed by accessing the Jacksonville District website at 
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil

and linking to the Navigation selection from the menu, or by calling 
904-232-2236.

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Bob Clinkenbeard
24' custom trailer trawler
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-aboardbobbinalong