Recommended Okeechobee Waterway Website
This US Corps of Engineers website is an excellent source for information on Okeechobee Waterway:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Notices-to-Navigation/
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USACOE to Suspend Water Release from Lake Okeechobee
St. Lucie Lock, the easternmost Okeechobee lock, lies west of Stuart, FL near Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 15.
St. Lucie Lock
U.S. Army Corps will suspend water flows to the St. Lucie Estuary beginning Friday
WPTV Webteam
11:50 AM, Nov 3, 2016The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday it will suspend water flowing from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary and reduce flows to Caloosahatchee Estuary.
The Corps cited falling water levels in the lake as the reason.
It said no water from the lake will be released through the St. Lucie Lock near Stuart. This is the first time since late January that discharges have been suspended from the St. Lucie Lock after a wetter than usual dry season last winter.
However, the Corps says runoff from rain that accumulates in the St. Lucie basin will be allowed to pass through the spillway.
“Drier weather has taken hold and the lake continues to recede,” Candida Bronson, Acting Operations Division Chief for the Jacksonville District, said in a news release. “Barring an unexpected heavy-rain event, we expect the recession to continue. We can safely suspend releases to the St. Lucie and will continue reducing flows to the Caloosahatchee from 2,800 cfs to 650 cfs over the coming week.”
The water level at the lake stands at 15.40 feet which the Corps says is down .21 feet over the past week.
The changes announced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin Friday.
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For St. Lucie Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the St. Lucie Lock
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New Location for River District Farmer’s Market, Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 135
The river is Caloosahatchee and the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Sponsors are Legacy Harbour Marina and Fort Myers Yacht Basin. Legacy Harbor Marina entrance is located on the Okeechobee Waterway East of Marker #49 on the Caloosahatchee River. Fort Myers Yacht Basin lies along banks of the Caloosahatchee River, between the 3rd and 4th bridges from west to east.
River District Farmer’s Market opens at new location this Thursday
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 31, 2016) – The River District Farmer’s Market will open this Thursday in a new location in nearby Centennial Park.
This move, from the market’s previous location under the Caloosahatchee Bridge at 2000 West First Street, will free up the more than 40 parking spots that were taken up by vendors.
“We are really excited about this change in venue because it now only frees up parking under the bridge for our customers, but also allows for seating under the pavilion and gives us a fabulous back drop of the River,” said Betsy Ventura, who, along with Jean Baer, owns Local Roots, LLC and will run the market each week.
The market will take place each Thursday and will be open all year except for Thanksgiving Day but will open on Wednesday, Nov. 23 for a make-up market. Vendors begin setting up at 7 a.m. with everyone in place by 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
According to Ventura and Baer, there will be plenty of lunch options including area favorite food trucks as well as fresh flowers, local fruits and vegetables, Greek olive oils, dog treats, and much more. Complimentary Jimmy Java’s coffee will be given to the first 100 shoppers starting at 9 am.
Baer’s son, Tyler, a graduate of the University of Florida and Ventura’s daughter, Sims, will be joining the duo this season to assist in managing the markets.
In addition to Downtown, Ventura and Baer also operate the Sanibel, Bonita Springs, Coconut Point, Fenway South, Lakes Park, FSW and Boca Grande (beginning Jan. 6) Farmers Markets.
They added that the goal of each of their markets is to strengthen the surrounding community by showcasing vendors that are selling produce and artisan products that are grown or produced locally. Products are packaged by owners in an environmentally friendly way and the locations of markets are clean and safe and reflect a community atmosphere.
Anyone interested in becoming a vendor or providing live entertainment may visit the web site at www.BuyLocalLee.com.
Contact: Melinda Isley, APR, m.creativepr, 239-274-7736, cell: 239-565-1630, melinda@mcreativepr.com
Thank you,
Melissa Moore
Web/Graphics Technician
Anniversary Logo-03
1631 Hendry Street
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
T: 239.337.1071 – F: 239-337.1076
mmoore@cella.cc – www.cella.ccClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ft Myers Yacht Basin
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Praise for Indiantown Marina’s Response to Matthew, Okeechobee Waterway, Statute Mile 29.5
Indiantown Marina lies on the St. Lucie Canal west of the HWY 710 Bridge. Well done Indiantown Marina!
Kudos to Indiantown Marina for extraordinary accommodation of boats evacuating Hurricane Matthew from the east, with wet water slips and haul outs. The staff worked non-stop for 3-4 days to help all in need. Locks were backed up hours with boats and all were able to get to Indiantown safe haven.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Indiantown Marina
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Praise For Sunset Bay Marina, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 7.5
Sunset Bay Marina lies directly on the patch of the Okeechobee Waterway, only a few miles off the AICW via the St. Lucie River. Our thanks to Peyton Yon for this report.
Convenient and easy location to get in and out of. Well maintained, good Wifi, water and electric above average, very clean restrooms and showers, crew lounge and bicycles are provided for. Dockage rates are high for short term and transit accommodations please note they charge an additional nightly fee for electric. Free pump out service for your holding tanks offer once per week dockside or at the main fuel docks on demand. Water pressure is very high please use caution. Our dockage was for a 60ft MY on B Dock.
Peyton YonClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunset Bay Marina and Moorings
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US Army Corp of Engineers to Increase Water Flow from Lake Okeechobee
This release of water has to be attributed to rains from Hermine. Increased water releases from Lake Okeechobee earlier this year resulted in massive fish kills downstream of the release.
Corps of Engineers increasing Lake Okeechobee discharges
by Scott Sutton
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday plans to increase the amount of water flowing from Lake Okeechobee over the next week….CLICK HERE for the full report from WPTV, West Palm Beach
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Extreme Toxicity Reported in Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart, FL
One of the four areas tested, Leighton Park, is in the South Fork of the St. Lucie River at Mile 9.5 of the Okeechobee Waterway just south of the Palm City Bridge. Central Marine is on the north side of the the Okeechobee/St.Lucie River, east of the New Roosevelt Bridge and Loggerhead Club and Marina. This report comes from WPTV.com of West Palm Beach, FL.
Report shows extreme toxicity in four bodies of water in Martin County
WPTV Webteam
12:00 PM, Jul 15, 2016Water samples taken in Martin County show extreme toxicity in four bodies of water.
The analysis, done by chemists at the SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry in New York, found that water samples from Leighton Park, Sandsprit Park, Deck and Central contained levels of microcystins that were “extremely high, well above the levels allowed for recreational contact.”Microcystins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
Those results are not surprising to Mary Radabaugh who manages Central Marine. That’s one of the locations where tests showed extreme toxicity.CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT AND VIDEO
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Okeechobee Update
Our sincere thanks to Captain Greg Allard for this excellent report and photos of the Okeechobee Waterway. Greg is an experienced cruiser and his observations and advice are definitely to be trusted and heeded.
Okeechobee Update – June 24, 1016
We just finished crossing the Okeechobee waterway from east to west. Some observations:1) Obstruction report at MM34: On January 12, 2016 the Cruisers Net contained a report of a vessel which hit an object and sustained damage in the vicinity of MM 34 on the St. Lucie Canal.On June 22, 2016, while we were underway we observed the scene below, at approximately MM34:
This bird was perched on the limb of a tree, on the south side of the waterway. The water was very murky, so we could not see any other parts of the tree or limb to be able to tell how far it extended into the waterway. The bird is approximately 30’+ from shore.I hit the MOB button, and recorded the location as we passed: 27 degrees 00.8582’N; 080 degrees, 32.8102′ W.In re-reading the report about the damaged vessel from January 12th, it appears that the vessel was “along the side of the canal which is the starboard side coming East from Port Mayaca,”“which would have put it in approximately this location. Of course we can’t be certain that this was the earlier reported obstruction.This type of hazard is not unusual along this portion of the St. Lucie Canal. Just a mile further west, we took this photo:
On both sides of the canal, there are stands of trees, including some tall casuarinas on the right side. If one of them fell into the canal, it could easily become a hazard. The lesson here is to “stay in the middle”. That won’t protect you from free-floating logs or pilings, but it will minimize the risk of contacting fallen trees.2) Lake Okeechobee water levels: The water levels in the lake have been high, due to heavy rains. Most cruisers use “Route 1” to cross (as opposed to Route 2, the southern rim route). This link takes you to the Corp of Engineers site, showing you the current depths for each route:According to the Corps, the shallowest part of Route 1 is in the SW corner of the lake, from Clewiston out to where the channel stops its zig-zags. Follow the markers carefully, and don’t drift off. When we crossed on June 22, the level was over 8.8’.It’s important to try to cross the lake as early as possible in the morning, before any strong winds develop, especially if the winds come from the north/northeast, or east. Where the water is only 8’ deep, if winds cause waves in the lake 2-4’ in height near the SW corner of the lake, a boat with a 5’ draft may start to bottom out in those conditions. The bottom there is rock, not sand.3) Algae conditions:Due to the heavy rains, there are severe algae blooms in the St Lucie canal, lower St. Lucie River, and the lake. We saw none on the Caloosahatchee River side. The algae is kelly green in color. Here’s what it looks like:
According to local news reports, samples have been sent toFlorida’s health lab for testing, so as of the time of this report it is unknown whether it will be considered toxic or not. We observed no cooling issues with our engines as we passed through these patches. It is thin and “whispy” and did not accumulate at all in the engine strainer baskets.Favorite places to stay overnight:1) To position yourself for an early morning Okeechobee crossing, going west to east:a) Moore Haven docks (just before the lock). $1.00 a foot; electric available.b) Roland Martin’s Marina, in Clewiston. Probably the best layover place; right on the edge of the lake. The outdoor bar is terrific: it reminds us of the bar scene in the first Star Wars movie.When we stayed there in March on the way east, the small lock at Clewiston was actually in operation (the first time we have ever seen that.) Our 65’ LOA boat barely fit into the lock. On our most recent return trip, the lock was fully open, not in operation, and allowed full pass-through to the marina. The Clewiston lock is not operated by the Corps of Engineers – it is private, and the people who run it are well intentioned, friendly amateurs. Just because they tell you to do something, it doesn’t mean they know what they are talking about. They put about 20 bass boats into the chamber with us, and they were hanging all over us, banging into us, and cutting us off as we entered the chamber; it was bedlam.Roland Martin’s is still the best place to stay on a west to east trip. The dockmaster Sam is excellent. Call for a reservation.2) To position yourself for an east to west crossing of the lake in the morning:a) Indiantown Marina: A true old fashioned time-warp. They have limited slip space, but at $1.00 a foot, it is a bargain. It’s about 9.9 Statute Miles from the Port Mayaca lock, where you would begin to cross the lake.b) If Indiantown can’t take you, the River Forest marina, just 1/2 mile west of the St. Lucie lock, is a good alternative, at $1.35 a foot. It will take you longer to get to the eastern edge of the lake in the morning, but there aren’t any other choices.4) Ortona Lock Restrictions:The Ortona lock is undergoing repairs, and there are restricted openings which have been reported on the Cruisers Net.Note that the restricted openings do not apply on weekends, when the lock will open on demand from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM.On our recent trip across the waterway from east to west, we stayed at the River Forest location in Moore Haven, just 1/4 mile east of the Ortona lock. It’s perfectly positioned to allow us to arrive at the Ortona lock in time for the 7:00-7:30 limited opening. We did hear the lockmaster, on the VHF, allowing a boat to lock through at a time other than the restricted windows, so it does not hurt to ask. It depends on whether construction is actually going on.Corp of Engineers Contact:The day before we begin any Okeechobee crossing, we call the local Corp of Engineers office directly (they are in Clewiston), to be sure there aren’t any lock shutdowns or bridge problems. They are always very helpful.Here’s the phone number: 863-983-8101Many of our cruising friends would never consider using the Okeechobee. We enjoy the trip. It’s much shorter than going down through the Keys and then heading north, up through the endless and tiresome Florida Bay, which can be loaded with crab traps. It is also easier to run the waterway in bad weather. It presents a fascinating slice of old time Florida. Scenes like this sunrise make it worthwhile:
Greg AllardM/V “Meander”Be the first to comment!
Log of the Ideath, Captain Randy Mims, June 14, 2016
You only have to spend a short time talking with Randy Mims to know that he has the soul of a true sailor. Randy not only built his 27ft gaff-rigged cutter, Ideath, but each year he single-hands the cutter from North Carolina to the Northern Gulf Coast and back again. “Ideath” is pronounced Idea-th and loosely translates as “house of ideas”. Randy stops along the way to visit maritime museums and, indulging his passion for music, he volunteers to sing in church choirs along the way. He also takes time to share his travels with his friends and has agreed to allow SSECN to post his emails. For more photos and more on Randy, go to http://towndock.net/shippingnews/ideath?pg=1 from TownDock.net in Oriental. See previous installment: /156986.
Dear Friends,
I am sending this update from LaBelle, Florida. It is located on the Caloosahatchee river in the Okeechobee waterway. I have crossed Lake Okeechobee numerous times both under sail and power depending on the wind. The first time, the wind quit completely and I anchored for the night. The next morning it was so absolutely calm that I spent half a day marveling at how quiet it was. When you are in the middle of a vast body of water and it is so still there is nothing to reflect sound , you can yell as loud as you can and as soon as it leaves your mouth it is like it is just absorbed by the universe. There are two possible routes to the a other side. There is the directly across way which I have always taken and what is called the rim route. Because of disastrous floods in the 1920’s, a channel was dug around the lake and the rock and dirt was used to build the “Herbert Hoover Dike”. This channel has always been too shallow to allow Ideath to try. This year I was pleased to learn that the lake is over two feet above the normal full pool. I have always wanted to experience this route even though it is eleven mile further. Many marsh islands and habitats dot the length of this channel. Near Belle Glade there is a park on Torry Island which is reached by an antique “hand operated” swing bridge. After calling the bridge tender and requesting an opening, a young man walked to the center of the bridge and inserted what looked like about an eight foot long metal tube into the deck of the bridge at about a 45 degree angle and began pushing it around in a circle. Obviously pretty hard to get moving, once he got it going it seemed pretty easy to get it all the way open. One added bonus was that during the entire operation no cars were waiting behind the swing arm barricades. I spent a wonderful day watching clouds of birds and aquatic flowering plants of all descriptions glide past. One of the best things about voyaging on Ideath is that no matter how long I have been doing it, there are always the opportunities to go somewhere or do something that I have always wanted to do but was prevented by some circumstance. Always be ready to take advantage of of an opportunity to do something or be someone when the universe makes it possible. I am starting to get close enough to the end of the voyage that I find myself longing to be there and wishing that it would never end. I hope your adventure is just as fantastic.
Love and Peace to you all,
RandyBe the first to comment!
State of Emergency: Lake Okeechobee at Highest Levels Since 2005
February 27: As reported in the article below from WPTV of West Palm Beach, Gov. Scott has declared a State of Emergency regarding Lake Okeechobee discharge:
And this 2/23 article from Mother Jones:
http://m.motherjones.com/environment/2016/02/florida-water-pollution-lake-okeechobee
Except for the possibility of floating debris, the high levels are good news (well, maybe not good for all boaters: see Philips Lange’s comments below!) for boaters transiting the Okeechobee Waterway, but bad news for fishermen in the St. Lucie River.
Lake Okeechobee discharges could last for months
Monday level was 16.14 feet
Jon Shainman
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORYComments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Philip
I am a boater and I don’t find high water levels good news. I barely cleared the !^#@%^&& bridge at Port Mayaca and wonder if i will have to go south to get to the Florida east coast in the spring.
For the latest bridge clearances, visit – http://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml
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Cape Coral Cruise Club Visits Legacy Harbour Marina, Fort Myers, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 135
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Legacy Harbour Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on the Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway, in the heart of downtown Fort Myers, Florida. Multiple dining and shopping opportunities are found within easy walking distance of this absolutely first-rate marina!
Cape Coral Cruise Club Cruises to Legacy Harbour Marina
By John Queen, Commodore, Cape Coral Cruise Club
Legacy Harbour Welcome Sign
Each month, the Cape Coral Cruise Club makes a scheduled cruise to a different marina in SW Florida and stays for several days enjoying the amenities and hospitality of the marina. We do this nine times a year along with an extended cruise each spring. We take a break during the summer months of July and August, as many members return north. This January vessel compasses pointed towards Legacy Harbour Marina in downtown Fort Myers.
Moonlighter arrives at Legacy Harbour.
Club boats headed out on Tuesday, January 26th on what was actually a nice dry day, and boats headed home on Friday, January 29th, also a nice dry day. Everything in between – fergetaboutit! It was rain, rain, and more rain. Did I mention it was wet? The Club plans its monthly cruises months ahead of time and cannot of course control Mother Nature, but did she really have to rain on our parade all that week?
Seven Cape Coral Cruise Club member boats made the journey plus 2 club members live-aboard and reside at Legacy Harbour year round (they didn’t have to go far). On Tuesday night, club members gathered at the Tiki Hut for drinks and a potluck dinner. That’s when the rain began. It didn’t stop until Friday morning.
Wednesday morning, after serving up a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and Bennett’s doughnuts, a tour was planned at the Edison-Ford Estates Museum and Laboratory. Seven club members made the trip only to find that Edison-Ford had closed the estate tours and grounds due to inclement weather. We toured the museum and laboratory, but it was disappointing that that the main estate was not accessible.
Wednesday night, several members brought out their best chili recipes for a chili cook-off contest. The Tiki Hut at Legacy was lined with 7 crock pots, each vying for attention. After scouting the marina to find a person who would serve as our ‘official’ chili judge, as luck would have it, Eric, the Legacy Dock Master volunteered. At the time, we didn’t realize what a true chili aficionado Eric was.
At the stroke of 6:00 PM, Eric showed up with a clipboard and judging sheet divided into 5 or 6 categories of aroma, texture, and consistency…, from which to judge. Before judging, Eric also gave an impromptu verbal lesson on the history of chili. Eric was the perfect judge! After carefully writing notes and quickly sampling each offering, Eric rose from the steam laden crocks and declared victory: Pati Queen was declared the winner followed by 2nd place to Stephanie Carrico, and 3rd place going to Bonnie Martin.
On Thursday morning, we laid out a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, dry cereals and juices for everyone. Of course it rained the night before, and the rain continued throughout the day.
Over 40 members enjoy dinner at Pinchers Crab Shack in Ft. Myers.
Thursday evening about 45 club members converged on Pincher’s Restaurant a few blocks west of Legacy Harbour. Since several members came to Pincher’s by car, they helped shuttle boaters stay out of the rain. It’s always nice to have non boating club members join the boaters for the group dinner. Pincher’s was quite hospitable by housing all club members in a private dining area.
On Friday morning the rain finally stopped and the boaters headed out to the Caloosahatchee returning to their home slips scattered around Cape Coral. The Club certainly thanks the staff of Legacy Harbour Marina for their hospitality, as well as Pincher’s Restaurant for accommodating us on this event. We thank Mother Nature for giving us a dry trip back home on Friday.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. The Club website is being updated so the short video of recent Club activities and additional Club information may not be accessible. Club website, www.c-c-c-c.org
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Legacy Harbour Marina
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Good Words for Fort Myers Yacht Basin, Caloosahatchee River/Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 135
These two reports on City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, come from our friends at AGLCA Forum. Fort Myers Yacht Basin lies along the southeasterly banks of the Caloosahatchee River, between the 3rd and 4th bridges from west to east.
We spent a lovely month at Fort Myers municipal marina last year about this time.
They were helpful, and kind. Legacy is closer to the Publix grocery. But if you need some exercise, the Publix is a 22 minute brisk walk from the city marina. We walked up to restaurants downtown and enjoyed the many festivals that abound on the area. There were car shows, parades and the like.
An added advantage was the saxophone player who serenaded us and the rest of the marina from under the highway bridge. Hope you are there when he is.
Because it is close to a city street , there are early morning runners if you are docked by the street. We have also found that docking close to the city walk invites ants to join you…depending on your thoughts, you may want to spray your dock lines with a Raid like thing.
But we loved it. Stayed a month.
Kathy Anderson
Sea FeverJust stayed a month there, great experience. Very friendly and helpful staff, reasonable rates, and metered elec only totaled 25 bucks for the whole month.
Was not on the street side so can’t comment on that. Did hear the sax player a few times, very pleasant sounds. Close to most things you might need and a free shuttle to get you around the area. Highly recommended facility.
David and Barbara DoylClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Ft Myers Yacht Basin
Comments from Cruisers (2)
- Reply to Joe
Fort Myers Yacht Basin is so popular that its had a waiting list since I arrived in December. Its location is fantastic as you are 2 blocks away from a lovely downtown walking district with many cool sidewalk cafes and restaurants, a vibrant arts and music culture. It is beautifully designed and landscaped and having a pump out port right outside the boat is a new experience for us – so convenient! Best thing is the staff, so friendly and helpful. Please go somewhere else so there is room for me next time!
- Reply to David
I had always bypassed Fort Myers in the past because it was not located at a point where I would end my cruising day, I seemed to be going by at mid-day on my way to another place to drop anchor for the night.
Fortunately, bad weather ahead caused me to stop and get a spot on the transient pier in mid afternoon and we spent the night in Fort Myers while waiting for the cold front to pass by.
First Street is a short walk from the marina, and “The Lodge” was a very pleasant surprise for our meal that evening. In fact, I was so impressed that after I finished moving our sailboat to its homeport, I got my wife to drive back to Fort Myers with me so that she could also enjoy the Brisket and Bar-b-que at “The Lodge”. I won’t be bypassing Fort Myers anymore. thelodgefl.com
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Okeechobee Waterway East to West Report
Our thanks to SSECN Team Member, Curtis Hoff, for these navigation notes along the Okeechobee Waterway.
I just crossed the Okeechobee from Stuart to Ft. Myers the past two days and these are the items I noted during my trip.
Indiantown Railway Bridge was down as I approached with no signs of a train. Had to call on channel 9 to have it opened. Therefore don’t assume it will be ‘normally’ open unless a train is expected.
*** IMPORTANT ONE ***
Regarding this recent SSECN post. The obstruction is clearly visible at MM 33.5 less than halfway between the centerline and the south edge. Looks to be 6-8″ dia wood sticking vertically up only an inch or two above the water. Stay on center or slightly north.Also, found two similar hazards at MM34.3 and 35.2. Both are a bit further off center maybe 20% channel width from the north (Note: north, not south) edge but could be hit in a passing condition or if someone drifted off the centerline. They are a bit smaller, maybe 6″ dia but also just slightly above the water – a bird was perched on one of them when I passed.
Construction just east of Moore Haven (26°49.594’N, 081°03.890’W). Nothing to worry about right now – channel is currently very wide. Some web resources are reporting it is very narrow (20 ft) – currently at least 50 ft wide. No other construction trouble spots, but I crossed the lake and didn’t take the rim route.
Ortona Lock – at least one other web resource is incorrectly stating there is a limited schedule from mid-December to mid-June That is currently incorrect – on demand according to the lock tender and he wasn’t sure if/when it would become restricted. He even checked the notices on line since he was unaware – but he did think that it could occur at some point – I believe it may be due to construction. Since the schedule could change it would be best to either check the notices online or call the lock since it could be restricted to a few openings a day at some point. But at this point don’t assume it is restricted since it wasn’t today, 1/29.
CurtisClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Construction Site
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Dan
Ortona Lock is on a some what limited schedule, Depending on the day. I went across on Feb. 1, East to West, and it was by far my slowest crossing ever. They were at this time dumping huge amount of water from the lake, both east and west. I am talking about 300 million gal.s a day, both ways with aprox. 2 mph head current heading toward the lake and the 2 mph away from the lake . Ortona is waiting on some construction to start in the near future and that will slow the locking down. On Feb. 1, they actually open the Lock, both sides to ” Dump Extra Water”, and boaters had to wait about 2 hrs for this to be completed before crossing through. The lock master is only following orders and he does not know when or a what time this will occur so it is best to call ahead before going. We had called the night before and nothing was scheduled, so things can change quick. On the good side, on our way back across we make the best time ever, Its just a matter of catching the locks at the right times. Capt Dan
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Report from Okeechobee Lake Route and Franklin Docks, Statute Mile 121
Our thanks to veteran cruiser David Bell for this good report from the Okeechobee Waterway. The popular Franklin Lock Boat-in Docks, which were closed for repairs in August of 2014, are open for business.
Left Stuart for Fort Myers with the lake level at 14.78′. Never saw less than 10′ of water the entire trip. We took the lake route instead of the rim route. All of the lock tenders were right on the ball. Never had a delay. But one quick note. The locks shut down at 1640. If you are not in the lock by then you will have to wait for a sunrise before you can pass. The Franklin lock docks on the NE side were empty. At $24.00 per night it is a great place to lay over and very protected.
David BellClick Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Franklin Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Franklin Lock
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Kim
Spent Saturday night-Halloween- at Franklin Lock docks. Lovely as always. They seem to have only replaced the pilings- no other changes to configuration. Nothing fancy but facilities were spotless. Sign still says $24 but it is $30 which becomes $15 with an inter-agency senior pass. At any of those price points it is a bargain (electric is included). 4 of the slips can be reserved online (www. recreation.gov) and 4 are first come first serve. Our group of 3 boats were the only ones there Saturday.
Kim
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Question Regarding Lake Level in Lake Okeechobee
Those of you who are frequent Lake Okeechobee Waterway cruisers are certain to have answers for Skipper Bill’s questions. Let us hear from you! USACE daily lake level reports can be found at http://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml. However, Bill’s questions refer to ARGUS soundings for Lake Okeechobee. See /?p=148612. ARGUS soundings are shown on all SSECN Chartview pages by clicking the ARGUS button at the top of the chart.
What lake level are the soundings in Lake Okeechobee corrected to, or what lake level were they observed? Since there is no `MLLW’ the lake level at observation or correction to the standard lake level is essential.
Thanks,
Bill
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to John
Hi Bill,
For Lake Okeechobee we get the daily lake level reports from the Corps of Engineers and refer that to the 12.5 foot average as used for the NOAA charts. Then we apply that difference to the soundings for each day. Please let us know if you see anything that looks odd though, so we can investigate and make adjustments to the process if possible.
Thank you,
John Hersey
SURVICE Engineering
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Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina Recognized As One Of The Best in Florida
Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!, overlooks the westerly banks of the Mantanzas Pass channel, west of marker #13.
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina has been named to the 17 Best Resorts in Florida list by Traveluto, a rapidly growing travel blog. The resort was praised for its idyllic location, lagoon-style pool and waterfall, on-site marina, spa and tropical surroundings.
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina Recognized As One Of The 17 Best Resorts in Florida
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla., July 9, 2015
Travelers heading to the Sunshine State this summer will find one more exciting reason to stay at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina.One of the premier resorts on Fort Myers Beach recently made the list of 17 Best Resorts in Florida by Traveluto. A rapidly growing travel blog covering exciting destinations all over the world in addition to other travel-related topics, Traveluto searched the Sunshine State’s most popular resorts ‘“ from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys to the infamous home of Walt Disney World ‘“ to honor 17 must-visit hotel destinations in the state.
Situated on the beautiful tip of Estero Island, the full-service Fort Myers Beach hotel was praised for its lagoon-style pool and large waterfall, convenient on-site marina, spa and tropical restaurants, making it the ideal setting for spurring romance or making memories with the whole family.
In addition to the resort’s on-site amenities, the travel blog referenced its outstanding reviews on TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website. Pink Shell received numerous guest reviews raving about “amazing rooms with lanais,” “incredible views,” the “luxurious spa” and “friendly and accommodating staff.”
On top of making the list of 17 Best Resorts in Florida, the renowned Fort Myers Beach resort has been recognized with numerous awards including the 2014 Best of Weddings by The Knot, 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and Hall of Fame Award. Pink Shell also was voted the “Best Resort and Hotel of Fort Myers Beach” by Fort Myers Beach Observer and “Top 25 Best Places to Tie Up in North America” by the editors and readers of Power and Motoryacht magazine.
Starting off with a single cottage in 1953, Pink Shell has expanded across 12 lush acres and features 213 one- and two-bedroom condos, each offering sweeping ocean views from sunrise to sunset. Though it has grown, been renovated and rebranded since the original beachfront property that first sat on the sun-kissed sand, the resort celebrates the memories that were once made on Fort Myers Beach while providing all the amenities necessary for friends and families to make new ones.
About Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina at 275 Estero Blvd. in Fort Myers Beach, FL is on 12 lush acres of sugary white sand facing the Gulf of Mexico. The full-service destination resort features 213 one- and two-bedroom condos, all offering sweeping ocean views. Additional amenities include a 41-slip marina, full-service spa, 3 heated outdoor pools, 2 restaurants, 2 ballrooms, on-site sailing school and water sports. For information, visit www.PinkShell.com or call 1-888-222-7465. Like Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Facebook, follow the resort on Twitter and add it to a circle on Google Plus.About Boykin Management Company
Boykin Management Company, a leading hospitality management company with offices in Charlotte, NC and Fort Myers Beach, FL, is consistently recognized for excellence in delivering value-added lodging operations. Since 1958, BMC has been developing, managing and operating hotels, resorts, condominium hotels and conference centers. In addition to BMC’s long-standing relationships with the industry’s leading hotel brands including Marriott, Hilton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Radisson, Crowne Plaza, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn, BMC has operated numerous independent and resort hotels. BMC has managed more than 20,000 rooms in 23 states since its inception. For information, visit www.Boykin.com.PRESS CONTACT
Ellis Etter
1-239-463-6181
eetter@pinkshell.com
SOURCE Pink Shell Beach Resort & MarinaClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina
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Old Roosevelt Bridge Change of Schedule, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 7.4
Our thanks to Skipper Susan Parker for notifying us of this change of schedule and to Officer Lieberum for clarifying this “Old Bridge” – “New Bridge” situation. Our bridge directory has been updated.
Good Morning Larry,
Even I’m a little confused, mostly due to wording. Roosevelt Bridge use to be US 1 and Dixie in this area. When they built the new high level fixed US 1 Bridge the US 1 designation was removed from the Roosevelt Bridge; however it was never removed from the CFR verbiage therefore, the description in 33 CFR 117.317 makes it sound like the old US 1 bridge, this is incorrect as this is the NW Dixie Hwy regulation below – at some point the CFR will need to be corrected to reflect the correct roadway. As the bridges in this portion of the CFR are listed from east to west you will note that the FEC R/R comes before the US 1 bridge; therefore, one can determine that this is the correct regulation for this bridge.
According to 33 CFR 117.317 (d) Roosevelt (US1) bridge, mile 7.4 at Stuart. The draw shall open on signal; except Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. the draw need open only on the hour and half hour. However, the draw need not open between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. except at 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. On Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the draw need open only on the hour, 20 minutes after the hour, and 40 minutes after the hour. When the adjacent railway bridge is in the closed position at the time of a scheduled opening the draw need not open, but it must then open immediately upon opening of the railroad bridge to pass all accumulated vessels. Exempt vessels shall be passed at any time.
Hope this explanation helps.
Mike L
Michael Lieberum
Seventh Coast Guard District
Bridge Branch
Bridge Management SpecialistClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Old Roosevelt Bridge
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Restrictions on Franklin and St. Lucie Locks, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Miles 121 and 15
Franklin Lock, westernmost lock on the Okeechobee Waterway, is located at Statute Mile 121 and St. Lucie Lock, the easternmost lock, lies west of Stuart, FL near Statute Mile 15. This notice was posted on AGLCA’s Forum by good friends Chuck Baier and Susan Landry.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has announced restrictions for lock operations on the Okeechobee Waterway due to receding water levels on Lake Okeechobee, effective immediately.
Locking operations at the W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam near Fort Myers and the St. Lucie Lock & Dam near Stuart will be conducted every two hours from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. This action is the result of the water level at
Lake Okeechobee falling below 12.5 feet.`This is standard operating procedure whenever the lake falls below 12.5 feet’ said Steve Dunham, Chief of the Corps’ South Florida Operations Office. `We encourage boaters to be aware of the lake level and consider that drafts will continue to decrease if the lake drops more in coming weeks.’
Under the updated schedule, boats will be locked through at the Franklin and St. Lucie Locks at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. Operations at the other three locks, Ortona, Moore Haven, and Port Mayaca, will continue on demand between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. with final lockage beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Should the lake drop below 11.5 feet, additional reductions in service will be necessary. For more information on navigation notices concerning the Okeechobee Waterway, please visit the following website:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/’¦/Na’¦/NoticestoNavigation.aspx
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Franklin Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Franklin Lock
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For St. Lucie Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the St. Lucie Lock
Good Visit to Pahokee Marina, Lake Okeechobee Rim Route Statute Mile 50
The Pahokee Marina/Lake Okeechobee KOA is part of Pahokee State Park, north of Bacom Point, on the Rim Route of Lake Okeechobee. For more information go to: www.cityofpahokee.com/Marina & Campground/Marina.html
Pahokee Marina (3-18-15)
We traveled to Pahokee via the rim canal, no problems, the lake water was up and thanks to the Cruisers Net for letting us know the canal had been cleaned.
The first night was a great night, no wind. We were also warned not to leave the marina after dark. The area is a little rough. Everyone was friendly and helpful.
The second night the wind picked up and clocked around from the north to north west at about 8-10 knots. That got scary in the marina. One of the regulars (liveaboards) in the marina knocked on the boat and told us we had better put on more lines and helped us to cross tie everything so we were not rubbing the dock. They also told us if the wind gets more than what we have it starts to get dangerous inside the marina.
The town is within walking distance so food stuffs are within half mile walk. They also have a pool and restaurant.Be the first to comment!
A Visit to Moore Haven City Dock, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 78
Moore Haven City Dock, the first stop west of Lake Okeechobee, is located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 78, on the Moore Haven waterfront. Our thanks to Phil Herl for this advice and report.
Moore Haven City Marina (3/18/15)
Great docking and electric, Lots of space on a face type dock, if you arrive early remember to tie as close as possible to the other boats, to leave as much room as possible for other boats. Also help to encourage others to do the same. Eating places and grocery store are within walking distance.
Phil HerlClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Moore Haven
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