Delays for Lake Okeechobee and Charleston Areas

[AnchorageGuy]

Lake Okeechobee Lock Schedules

I spoke with the Lock Keeper at St. Lucie this morning and he informed me that both the St. Lucie Lock on the east end of the Lake and the Franklin Lock on the west end of the Lake are currently on every two hour schedules from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and no one can lock through after 7:00 PM. This is a result of the recent drought situation and only if the Lake levels return to an excess of 12 1/2 feet will the locks go back to a regular schedule of on demand. If your plans take you over the Lake Okeechobee route, plan for the delays. Current Lake levels and Bridge clearances are.....

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Lake Okeechobee and Navigation Depth Report
Data Ending 2400 hours 09 FEB 2011

Today's Lake Okeechobee Stage = 12.40 (Feet-NGVD29)
Today's Route 1 Navigational Depth ≈ 6.34 Feet

Today's Route 2 Navigational Depth ≈ 4.54 Feet

Bridge Clearance = 51.36 Feet S-308 Tailwater Elevation = 12.14 (Feet-NGVD29)

Ben Sawyer Bridge, Charleston

The problems with this bridge just seem to never go away. I don't know about you, but just as it begins to fade from my mind, here it comes again, with more problems and delays for all of us trying to get past Charleston. The latest news is that it now has to be opened by hand and will only be available for transit by boaters twice a day. Keep your fingers crossed and send a few extra good vibes to get the problems resolved and the bridge in good operating order when the migration north begins in the spring. As events unfold, we will do our best to keep everyone up to date. Here is the latest.........
This announces the publication of MSIB (05-11) - Ben Sawyer Bridge Manual Openings on Homeport at http://homeport.uscg.mil/charleston

MSIB (05-11) - Ben Sawyer Bridge Manual Openings

Issued: February 10, 2011

Expires: February 13, 2011

The Ben Sawyer Bridge is limited to manual openings due to mechanical repairs. The bridge will open twice daily at 0900 and 1500 as necessary. For questions regarding the closure, please contact the Ben Sawyer Bridge Tender at (843) 883-3581 or VHF channels 9 and 16. If you have additional questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact Coast Guard Sector Charleston at (843) 740-7050.
/S/
C. K. MARCY

Commander, U.S. Coast Guard
Chief, Prevention Department
By direction


Very Respectfully,
MST2 Richard J White
Waterways Management Division
US Coast Guard Sector Charleston
Office (843) 740-3180
Fax (843) 740-3189
homeport.uscg.mil/charleston