St. Lucie Lock and Dam is a dam located in Martin County, Florida, built in 1950. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 39 ft39 ft tall and 540 ft long, taller than 85% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About St. Lucie Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of St. Lucie Lock and Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by USACE - Jacksonville District (federal). It impounds the St Lucie Canal near Palm City.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,311 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 202 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/24/2025.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Martin |
| Nearest City | Palm City |
| River/Stream | St Lucie Canal |
| Coordinates | 27.11170, -80.28516 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,311 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,311 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,818 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 202 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Jacksonville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00425 |
| Federal ID | FL00425 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |