Also while I was downtown for the Woodcarver's Exposition and after strolling through Centennial Park, I noticed a paddle wheeler docked on the Caloosahatchie River. I discovered it was a tour boat and so I signed up for a 4 hour river cruise to the Franklin Lock.
The Franklin Lock and Dam was built in 1965 for $3.8 million. It is located on the Caloosahatchie River, near the town of Alva, approximately 33 miles upstream of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway. It was built for flood control, water control, prevention of salt water intrusion, and navigation purposes. Lockage usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes. The lock is open from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM 365 days a year. The lift of the lock is 2-3 feet. 15,000 vessels pass through annually, 97% of which are recreational.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed and currently manages the Franklin Lock and Dam along with 4 others along the 152 mile Okeechobee Waterway.
Lake Okeechobee is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the United States. It is 730 square miles in size (33 miles north to south and 30 miles east to west) and is connected to both of Florida's coasts via the man-made Okeechobee Waterway. (The waterway allows for passage to both coasts by bypassing the Florida Keys.) The Waterway was constructed in 1937 by the Corps of Engineers after two floods caused by hurricanes destroyed the areas surrounding the lake. The five locks along the waterway control the lake water levels.
The five locks from east (2) to west (3) of Lake Okeechobee are St. Lucie Lock, Port Mayaca Lock, Moorehaven Lock, Ortona Lock, and W.P. Franklin Lock.
