Lake Hancock, covering 4,584 acres, is a Public lake situated in Bartow in Polk County, with the associated WBID(s): 1623L.

Lake Hancock sits at the headwaters of the Peace River within the Circle B Bar Reserve. The lake plays an important role in meeting minimum flows in the Upper Peace River, as well as in improving water quality in the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor. The lake’s western shoreline, known as the Alligator Alley Trail, was damaged due to increased water levels and winds caused by Hurricane Irma in 2018. In partnership with Polk County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the CHNEP restored sixteen shoreline sites along Lake Hancock’s Alligator Alley. To learn more about this project, download a CHNEP Lake Hancock Shoreline Restoration Factsheet.